Public Rec
Public Rec is a Chicago-based DTC apparel company that designs performance leisurewear — pants, joggers, polos, and accessories — intended to transition between workouts and everyday professional wear, serving active lifestyle consumers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Public Rec does
Public Rec is a Chicago-based, privately held apparel company founded in 2015 by Zach Goldstein (Founder and CEO) that designs performance leisurewear intended to function across athletic and professional contexts. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through publicrec.com, offering a focused product line of performance pants (Dealmaker and Gamechanger families), joggers, polos, tees, tanks, socks, and hats, with accessories priced from $15 and garments generally in the $35-$100 range. The underlying product technology is described as performance apparel design and manufacturing with technical fabric construction suited for training and all-day wear.
The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with no physical retail footprint, supported by a multi-channel marketing stack spanning organic social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X), an email newsletter, community discount programs for military, first responders, nurses, teachers, and students, and a NOBULL-linked loyalty program. A core strategic relationship with NOBULL produces the co-branded "NOBULL x Public Rec" collection, distributed through both companies' e-commerce platforms, giving Public Rec a secondary distribution channel and access to NOBULL's athletic consumer base. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time unit transactions with no subscription component; promotional levers include a 25% first-order code (WELCOME25), $99 free-shipping threshold, and seasonal markdowns of up to 50%.
The company maintains a lean headcount of 1-10 employees and has raised approximately $5 million in a funding round in October 2023 (investors undisclosed). Public Rec was recognized by olaben as one of the "20 Best Activewear Brands You Need to Know in 2025." Ownership structure, investor identity, financial performance, and detailed headcount trends are not disclosed in the available source data, representing significant intelligence gaps.
Public Rec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Public Rec
- Website
- https://publicrec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Public Rec is a Chicago-based DTC apparel company that designs performance leisurewear — pants, joggers, polos, and accessories — intended to transition between workouts and everyday professional wear, serving active lifestyle consumers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Public Rec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Activewear and Lifestyle Apparel
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Family Clothing Stores (5651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Active Lifestyle Apparel Retail (CRAAABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Training & Cross-Training Footwear & Apparel Retail (CRAMACAD)
Keywords
Where Public Rec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Public Rec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Apparel and Accessories Sales: Direct product sales of performance apparel including pants, shorts, polos, tees, tanks, socks, and hats. One-time purchase model with no recurring subscription component. Revenue generated through individual product transactions with standard pricing ranging from $15-$35 for accessories and higher price points for garments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for apparel and accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Public Rec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Public Rec designs and sells versatile performance apparel — including pants, shorts, polos, tees, tanks, socks, and hats — engineered to perform during workouts while remaining suitable for everyday, professional, and casual wear. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer storefront at publicrec.com and maintains a strategic co-branded "NOBULL x Public Rec" collection distributed through NOBULL's e-commerce platform.
Product overview
Public Rec is an activewear and lifestyle clothing brand that specializes in versatile apparel designed to perform during workouts while remaining suitable for everyday wear. The brand operates through a collaborative collection with NOBULL called 'NOBULL x Public Rec,' which includes pants (Dealmaker 5-Pocket Pant, Dealmaker Chino+, Gamechanger 5-Pocket Pant, Gamechanger Rec Pant), joggers (Gamechanger Jogger), shorts, polos, and tees. The products feature performance fabrics and are marketed with messaging such as 'Comfort That Hustles As Hard As You Do' and 'Fit for Doing Life.' The collection targets active professionals seeking wardrobe pieces that transition seamlessly between athletic activities and daily/work environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NOBULL x Public Rec Collection A co-branded activewear collaboration between Public Rec and NOBULL featuring versatile pants, joggers, polos, and tees designed for both workouts and everyday wear, sold through nobullproject.com.
- Dealmaker 5-Pocket Pant A men's 5-pocket pant designed for professionals seeking versatile clothing that transitions from work to workout, featuring performance fabrics suitable for active lifestyles.
- Dealmaker Chino+ An enhanced men's chino pant combining professional appearance with performance features, suitable for business casual environments with active requirements.
- Gamechanger 5-Pocket Pant A men's performance-oriented 5-pocket pant designed as a wardrobe staple that works for training and everyday activities, featuring technical fabric construction.
- Gamechanger Rec Pant A men's 5-pocket pant incorporating recycled materials while maintaining performance characteristics for versatile wear.
- Gamechanger Jogger A men's jogger combining comfort with performance features, designed for warm-ups, cool-downs, and casual everyday wear with athletic functionality.
- Women's NOBULL High-Neck Tank A women's high-neck tank priced at $30, offered through the NOBULL x Public Rec storefront as part of the collaboration's performance apparel line.
- Men's NOBULL Tee A men's performance tee priced at $35, offered through the NOBULL x Public Rec storefront as part of the collaboration's performance apparel line.
- NOBULL Trucker Hat A one-size trucker hat priced at $35, offered through the NOBULL x Public Rec storefront as part of the collaboration's accessory line.
- Crew Performance Sock A crew-length performance sock priced at $15, offered through the NOBULL x Public Rec storefront as part of the collaboration's accessory line.
- Quarter Crew Performance Sock A quarter-crew performance sock priced at $15, offered through the NOBULL x Public Rec storefront as part of the collaboration's accessory line.
Companies that use Public Rec
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Public Rec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Public Rec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NOBULLcoreStrategic collaboration between Public Rec and NOBULL resulting in the NOBULL x Public Rec collection. The partnership brings Public Rec's versatile lifestyle apparel designs to NOBULL's athletic-focused customer base. Products include Dealmaker 5-Pocket Pant, Dealmaker Chino+, Gamechanger 5-Pocket Pant, Gamechanger Rec Pant, and Gamechanger Jogger. The collection is marketed through both brand's e-commerce platforms with cross-promotion to NOBULL's community of athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Public Rec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NOBULL: NOBULL is both Public Rec's strategic collaborator and most direct product peer — both brands sell performance-driven, training-oriented apparel to fitness-focused consumers through DTC e-commerce, with overlapping bottoms, polos, tees, and accessories. The co-branded NOBULL x Public Rec collection makes them the closest comparable in product and channel mix.
- Vuori: Vuori is a direct peer in the men's 'active-to-lifestyle' performance apparel category, selling versatile shorts, pants, and polos through DTC with similar pricing and a Southern California aesthetic. Like Public Rec, Vuori targets the gym-to-everyday consumer and competes for the same share-of-wardrobe.
- Rhone: Rhone is a direct peer selling men's performance apparel (commuter pants, tees, polos) built for active professional lifestyles. It shares the workout-to-workday value proposition and premium DTC positioning that Public Rec pursues.
- OLIVERS: OLIVERS is a men's direct-to-consumer apparel brand focused on technically driven everyday essentials — performance shorts, pants, and tees — sitting in essentially the same product gap Public Rec targets.
- Western Rise: Western Rise is a direct peer producing versatile men's apparel (technical pants, tees, sweaters) designed for travel, work, and active use, distributed DTC with similar price points and target buyer.
- Ministry of Supply: Ministry of Supply is a direct peer that builds performance 'workwear' — dress shirts, pants, polos with technical fabrics — squarely in the hybrid professional/athletic category that Public Rec addresses.
- Mack Weldon: Mack Weldon sells men's everyday basics (underwear, socks, tees, pants) via DTC with performance fabrics and frequent direct promos, mirroring Public Rec's model and discount-driven acquisition playbook.
- Cuts Clothing: Cuts Clothing is a direct peer in DTC men's apparel, particularly versatile bottoms and tees with performance fabrics targeting the modern active lifestyle segment where Public Rec operates.
Broad incumbents
- Lululemon: Lululemon is the broad incumbent in athletic and athleisure apparel — its ABC pants, Metal Vent polos, and commission pants compete head-to-head with Public Rec's hybrid wear offerings from a position of vastly greater scale, assortment, and brand awareness.
- Athleta: Athleta (a Gap Inc. brand) is a broad incumbent in women's activewear that increasingly blurs into lifestyle/work-to-workout apparel — the same convergence Public Rec targets, only from a women's-first wholesale-and-DTC incumbent position.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Public Rec social profiles
Digital presencePublic Rec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Public Rec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Public Rec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Public Rec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Public Rec
What does Public Rec do?
Public Rec designs and sells versatile performance apparel — including pants, shorts, polos, tees, tanks, socks, and hats — engineered to perform during workouts while remaining suitable for everyday, professional, and casual wear. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer storefront at publicrec.com and maintains a strategic co-branded "NOBULL x Public Rec" collection distributed through NOBULL's e-commerce platform.
Is Public Rec a public or private company?
Public Rec is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Public Rec founded?
Public Rec was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Public Rec based?
Public Rec is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Public Rec make money?
One revenue line is on record: apparel and Accessories Sales.
Who are Public Rec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NOBULL, Vuori, Rhone, OLIVERS, Western Rise, Ministry of Supply, Mack Weldon and Cuts Clothing. Broad incumbents are Lululemon and Athleta.
Does Public Rec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Public Rec.
What industry is Public Rec in?
Public Rec's product category is Activewear and Lifestyle Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAABAL, Outdoor & Active Lifestyle Apparel Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMACAD, Training & Cross-Training Footwear & Apparel Retail. Its NAICS code is 458110 and its SIC code is 5600.