Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it was frustration that spurred Tom Patterson’s quest to reinvent men’s undergarments. As an active guy, Patterson found himself going through six new undershirts a month. No matter what brands he tried, they would inevitably bunch up around his beltline, come un-tucked, shrink after a single wash, yellow after a single wearing and make him feel less than the well-groomed, confident professional he wanted to be. Unsurprisingly, Patterson wasn’t alone in this dissatisfaction. Friends, co-workers and department store clerks agreed: men’s undershirts never fit or wore well. Though he had no experience in clothing design or manufacturing, Patterson decided the market demanded a better option so he set out to give men the undershirt they deserve.

Investigating the new territory of fashion, Patterson hit the streets and department stores asking regular guys, as well as clothing specialists, to share their thoughts about undershirts. He studied all the top brands, turning dozens of shirts inside out, measuring proportions and testing fabric blends to develop the perfect combination of fit, function, comfort, breathability, and style. The result was the reinvention of men’s wardrobe basics.

In 2009, Tommy John launched The Second Skin Collection, an innovative line of men’s underwear and outerwear. The unique stretch fabric and form-fitting design ensures the undershirts stay tucked in, breathe well and don’t shrink, while the tapered, slimming cut flatters the body and eliminates unnecessary fabric and bunching. This distinct Tailored Stretch Technology™ exclusive to Tommy John was developed in conjunction with athletic garment engineers and is currently pending a US Patent. By redefining the basics of men’s wardrobes, Tommy John seeks to provide men with innovative solutions to age-old apparel problems.

Raised in Milbank, South Dakota—population: 3,600, Patterson always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He started a number of small businesses when he was younger and always knew that one day, he would build a successful brand from the ground up. Before starting Tommy John, Patterson attended Arizona State University and then worked as a medical device salesman for seven years. Today, Patterson lives in Los Angeles and on days he isn’t solving men’s undergarment problems, he enjoys traveling to Brazil and New Zealand, yoga, surfing, lifting weights, playing golf, and hunting.