BIG NEWS!
Big News
Posted on
February 28, 2024
Dear Friends
We are writing with some big news.
We are in the process of closing swrve.
It will not be immediate, we have a fair amount of inventory for most items, but we will no longer be making new runs of our products, except for maybe a few small in-house runs.
You can check out our low stock alert collection here, which we will update weekly.
We want to take this opportunity to thank you.
We started swrve with a single product, a pair of knickers intended for urban cycling that were designed and made in a tiny rented studio in downtown Los Angeles and sold via word-of-mouth through the local bike community. We grew into an innovative outdoor company with quite a few notable achievements and were always in awe whenever our work took us to a new destination on a faraway continent.
We couldn’t have done any of this without you. We love swrve and we’re incredibly grateful to our customers for having supported this venture for the last 20 years.
It afforded us a life focused on making thoughtful garments of the highest quality, in a way that made us proud of the work we did. We never really worried about making money, or explosive growth, or many of the considerations that a lot of companies with investors worry about, because we had no investors. In a real sense, you were our investors. With every purchase you made, you invested in our company; making the next runs possible, funding the next development we had in mind, and keeping us financially afloat.
We also want to acknowledge what an incredible group of people you all are. We are often astounded by you all. We’ve sent packages off to CERN, the Smithsonian, NASA, and other esteemed institutions of knowledge. Some of you are teachers, park rangers, artists, researchers, writers, chefs, bike collective members, conservationists, architects; in other words, people who are creative, thoughtful, and dedicated to making the world a better place. People who value nature and spending time in the great outdoors as much as we do. We have been in the absolute best company. Thank you.
We also want to acknowledge our employees without whom none of this would have been possible. We are eternally grateful to everyone who has come through our doors and worked to make our vision a reality. It’s an honor that will always have us filled with gratitude. Shoutout to Roxy who has been with us for 10 years and without whom this whole operation would collapse. And also special thank you to Erin, Melvin, Lesbia, Jose, Pancho, and Todd, who were with us at different stages of our growth, and whom we will always consider part of the swrve family.
We are aware what an incredible privilege it has been to build and grow swrve from the ground up, and we are awed that we were able to do it for so long. We are humbled. We are thankful.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Matt + Muriel
You may have some questions and below are some answers. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any other questions or comments you may have.
Why are you closing?
After 20 years, the landscape of our industry has changed. We’ve seen the cost of business increase across the board, from the cost of our fabrics, to cut + sew, transportation, shipping, e-commerce platforms, payroll, marketing, etc. etc. It’s never been easy to run a small business, but every year we face growing costs to the point where we can’t raise our prices and remain competitive.
We are a teeny tiny company and have been able to hold our own with apparel behemoths for 20 years, and we’re incredibly proud of that. But we simply don’t have the buying power to negotiate the size and price of orders like they do, nor do we have the volume to negotiate discounts in shipping and other overhead costs like the big companies do.
We’ve always seen increasing costs with each new run we do, but in the past few years, the price increases and minimum order quantities have increased dramatically, to the point where it makes it difficult to move forward with how we do business.
We want to add that though these are the external pressures the swrve is facing, we’re ready for a new adventure. We’re excited to start a new chapter in our lives with time for other interests that we have mostly set aside for the past two decades. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens, and we are eager to find out what lies beyond for us.
Will you have a closeout sale?
We’re going to be operating the business normally for as long as we have inventory. As our warehouse empties and we run out of inventory, we will likely have some sort of sale, but not until the very end. We don't know what kind of timeline that will be: As we have been telling our close friends, many have decided to stockpile their favorite items, so we may be running out of inventory more quickly, or not! We shall see!
Will you sell the brand?
We would love to have swrve continue with the same dedication to quality and customer engagement as always. We think our brand has tremendous potential with the right partner; if you know of anyone that fits the bill and could be interested, send them our way.
23
Angel B
December 6, 2024
Nooooooooo!
Thank you for all of your efforts in making the best quality bicycle clothing. I still have yet to wear out the seats of any of my knickers. Other brands lasted a year, two at the most….yours are going on 10!
I know with this kind of work ethic you will do well in your next chapter. I will miss you!
Alex
November 11, 2024
This is a real bummer. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever bought from you all and recommended you to anyone who’s looking for the best jeans ever.
Please let us all know if you start a new project or go work somewhere else and make their jeans as good as yours were. They were truly unmatched.
Tim
November 4, 2024
Dear Muriel and Matt,
Thank you so much for the artful textile constructions you conceived and iterated over the last two decades. I burned through dozens of your shorts and knickers cycling in New York City and elsewhere, wearing them until they finally came apart. I recommended your site to many friends since you opened. I’m wearing a pair of your shorts now. It strikes me that your work enabled and encouraged us to live more self-propelled lives, a wryly subversive act in the land of the automobile. I wish you well in your next chapter!
Respectfully,
Tim
Jon Chin
October 25, 2024
So sad. Best bike clothes ever. So many miles and memories in your gear.
Elijah T.
September 17, 2024
Was sad to learn that you are closing. I have two pairs of transverse shorts each with about 5000 miles on them. They are faded and stained but still going strong! Bought 3 more pairs this year. Excellent clothing.
Wishing you the best in the next chapter of your career.
Are
August 12, 2024
Oh no, terrible news. Your jeans are simply incredible garments. You will be sorely missed! Best of luck with your new adventures.
Tilman
August 8, 2024
Still in denial, known for months that SWRVE is folding, still in denial…
Steve Willard
August 4, 2024
Gah!
I bought a pair of trouser shorts from The Spindle here in Atlanta that I have had for several years. I really love them and cannot tell you how many bike commute miles are on them! I finally decided to get around to buying another pair only to find this news. Sorry it hand to end this way but congratulations on the successes along the way. You made a great product! -Steve
Aaron Rhew
August 1, 2024
Wow you might not believe it. I just found a pair of your shorts in a little hand me down shop we have right here in Raleigh, NC
I was stoked when I seen them I knew right when I grabbed them I had myself a jewel. Im super bummed you guys are going out of business but I understand and I hope the best for you and your family✌️
Rob
July 29, 2024
Thanks for everything your magnificent effort. I now have a few great clothes that you made. I better look after them. I doubt I’ll see their like. Best of everything for the future.
Ali
July 18, 2024
Sad news. I’m finally replacing a pair of shorts I bought in 2015 for a tour and would have loved swrve to still be around in 9 years for when I need to replace the next ones!
What might be cool would be a guide to swrve approved brands or items? Rough equivalents from elsewhere in the industry. Appreciate it might also be a strange thing to put together.
Sheila McShane
June 29, 2024
I don’t know what to say. Your clothing works the best for the cycling community and it is the most durable and thoughtfully-designed on Earth! Needless to say that you will be seriously missed. Thank you for putting out great products and resisting end-stage capitalism. I echo the previous posters in wishing you the very best in your new pursuits and all the happiness in the world. Well done, Matt, Muriel, and staff of Swrve….well done!
Garrett
June 20, 2024
F*** capitalism. Thanks for the years of making the highest quality clothes I’ve ever come into contact with. I’ll forever appreciate knowing that such a high standard can exist. Go be happy doing whatever comes next and again thank you.
Aaron A Glenn
June 11, 2024
Thank you for everything. I’ve beeb a superfan since 2006 and my original bomber jacket that got lost two years ago still pulls at my heart when I think about it.
please please please consider a last call run of your items — it seems there are MANY of us who would be happy to buy multiples of multiple items. I need to stock up on jeans!!!
Matt
May 19, 2024
Very sad to see you close your doors, but excited for your next chapter. Till then, I know what I’ll be putting any discretionary spending towards… Each pair of your jeans usually lasts me about a year and a half before finally blowing out – and I wear them every single day. I’ve loved them all dearly for the last 7 years… Just stocked up for the next 7 years today. Big love to you guys. Thank you for the excellent clothing, and all your attention to detail. I truly hope someone decides to meet you in this moment and consider carrying the torch. I’ll keep an ear to the ground.
Mike
May 16, 2024
I have been a super fan and an advocate of your indestructible products since I found you guys. I will cherish the items in my collection all that much more. I wish you the best in your well earned next chapter. Thank you for the care and heart you poured into your work – it shows through in your products which is extremely rare.
Tinah
May 11, 2024
Nooooooo! I just found you guys last year and these are hands down the best jeans I’ve ever own. They are durable, and stretchy, I use them for work and everyday. I guess I need to stock pile some. Literally I don’t want to wear any other pair of jeans.
I’m sad but I totally understandable in this capitalist world. Best of luck in your next endeavors!
Erica Wilson
May 10, 2024
Sad news. I have lived in my knickers year round for well over a decade. You guys make far and away the best cycling gear. If you do another run of knickers, I will definitely stockpile!
Best of luck in future endeavours!
Stephen Baird
May 10, 2024
Ugh!!!! I’ve got 2 pair of digi camo shorts that I lived in exclusively for 3-4 years. Still have them but also have 2 other pair of swerve shorts now in rotation. I just bought 2 pair of the grey jeans to try them, and I love them. I’m so sad you’re closing. I’ll be placing an order shortly for more Swrve, a stockpile is in order. Good luck with future ventures!
Marc
April 23, 2024
This is sad news, I love your shorts, they’re the only thing I have where the crotch doesn’t blow out in a couple of months, and the winter shirts are fantastic for windy chilly days!
Martin Valenzuela
April 22, 2024
Best of luck!
I’m with Joe if y’all do a run of knickers I’ll likely buy a few. I’ve been waiting to see them back on the store for at least a year :(
So sad. It thanks for the best pair of bike knickers I own I just wish I had a few more pairs.
Peter
April 12, 2024
Best of luck.
Your clothing allowed me to incorporate cycling into my commute and benefit my quality of living.
Joe Delwiche
April 1, 2024
Best of luck with whatever comes next! If you decide to do a final in-house run of knickers, I’ll buy (3), at least.
They’ve been my favorite riding pants since my first pair with pink pockets, circa 2007.