Today we’d like to introduce you to Conner Dorrance
Conner , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Thrive started as a College Entrepreneurship project as a Senior at the University of Northern Iowa in Spring 2014. As a part of the course, we were asked to create a business plan. While some made up a business I took a serious approach and choose to start a real passion project. I have always had an interest in clothing and streetwear. When I went to the mall and saw Pocket t shirts selling for $35 a piece (as a broke college student) I felt like this was something I could do on my own. I was grateful enough to have a friend, Lizzie, down the street that taught me how to use her sewing machine and the rest was history. I began sewing custom styled fabric onto blank T’s and soon landed on a name – Thrive. I am a firm believer that were all here on this earth for a reason. Were all here to flourish and prosper. To become the best version of ourselves, Naturally Thrive felt like the perfect fit. I saw quick success around campus and launched my own website. In fall 2014 after graduation I moved to Los Angeles, However by Spring the following year I had tabled my business to pursue my full time career.
While I was still making shirts here and there, I was not selling at the pace I had back in Iowa. A year later in 2015 I began playing with the idea of launching my next product, hats. By 2016 I had revamped my website and saw my passion get refueled. I also released several more shirts and started photographing my products around Los Angeles. By 2017 I started to help other business by doing custom t shirts and hats. This allowed me to expand my brand into Totes, Sweatshirts, Koozies, and shorts. I moved from LA to Scottsdale and after two years there moved to Austin, TX where I reside and operate today. While I never made enough to quit my full time job, I have felt a real creative release and outlet by creating apparel I enjoyed. I get a real sense of pride seeing strangers wearing my gear and meeting new faces all while encouraging them to Thrive!
In January of 2025 I had the pleasure of helping raise money for the wildfires in LA bringing things full circle. I want to continue to host pops up through the rest of the year and drop new hats and shirts this summer.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not always been smooth. I have operated the business by myself the whole way. This includes content creation, product sourcing, sewing orders, fullfillment, website design, you name it! There have been times of doubt but also times of feeling a bit un-inspired to create.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While Thrive is my passion project and creative outlet I am a full time Sales Manager for a Tech company based in Scottsdale. I started this role in 2020 and have been promoted 3 times which I am very proud of. I try to approach my work and professional relationships with an open mind. Treating others with how I would expect to be treated if I was sitting in their position has led to my success.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The biggest trends in the tech space right now is the use of AI. We’re seeing the rise of virtual agents and chatbots, and this will only expand, providing more advanced conversational AI that can handle complex customer service tasks across multiple channels (voice, chat, email, social media). These virtual agents will handle not only basic queries but also sophisticated customer issues with greater accuracy and empathy.
On the apparel side, I expect to see rise of on-demand, custom-designed clothing. Whether it’s choosing specific fabrics, colors, patterns, or even fit adjustments, consumers will demand unique, one-of-a-kind pieces made to order. This trend will be supported by faster manufacturing processes, which will allow for quick turnarounds and cost-effective customization.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thriveclothingcompany.com
- Instagram: thriveclothingco
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conner-dorrance-95a8a258/details/experience/
Image Credits
7/8 – Conner Dorrance
Red Beanie – Bruno Nicoletti
