SOUNDOFF

What SOUNDOFF does

SOUNDOFF is a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer streetwear and urban apparel brand founded in 2016, operating an e-commerce storefront on Shopify alongside a permanent retail studio in the Edgewater neighborhood and event-driven pop-ups at Wintrust Arena during WNBA Chicago Sky home games. The company sells premium knit sweaters, graphic t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, headgear, and a proprietary Patch & Wear™ interchangeable patch system that allows customers to customize hats and apparel with detachable chenille, PVC, and sublimated patches. Product pricing spans approximately $15 for individual patches to $109 for higher-end sweatshirts and hoodies, with free standard shipping on orders over $75 and a sale channel offering discounts up to 62%.

The company's commercial model centers on three interlocking go-to-market motions: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce and physical retail, (2) event-driven pop-up activations tied to Chicago Sky home games through the "Sky By You" made-to-order knitwear customization program, and (3) community-led marketing around Chicago cultural identity, collegiate pride (DePaul University, Loyola Chicago, Michigan State), and WNBA fan apparel. Licensed collegiate and Chicago Sky partnerships provide exclusive product offerings unavailable from broader streetwear competitors. Underlying technology is a standard Shopify storefront augmented by SOUNDOFF's proprietary Patch & Wear™ trademarked customization system; no AI/ML infrastructure, APIs, or SDKs are disclosed. Revenue is generated solely through one-time product sales across apparel and accessories, with no subscription, licensing, or recurring revenue streams evident in the data.

The company employs between 11 and 50 people, has no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Operational and contact information centers on a single Chicago mailing/retail address (1055 W Bryn Mawr Ave). Brand identity extends across multiple social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X) and an editorial blog ("THE EDITION"). Overall, SOUNDOFF is positioned as a small, independent, community-rooted D2C apparel brand whose principal differentiators are licensed IP, customization mechanics, and Chicago cultural identity rather than technological depth.

Name

SOUNDOFF

Legal name

SOUNDOFF

Website

https://soundoffdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOUNDOFF is a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer streetwear brand selling knitwear, graphic apparel, headgear, and proprietary Patch & Wear™ customizable accessories through Shopify e-commerce, a permanent Edgewater studio, and WNBA Chicago Sky event pop-ups, serving collegiate fans, urban streetwear enthusiasts, and Chicago Sky supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Streetwear and Urban Apparel

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Streetwear & Contemporary Apparel Retail (CRAAABAM)

Keywords

• Urban streetwear apparel
• Collegiate knit sweaters
• Interchangeable patch accessories
• Customizable headwear
• Graphic t-shirts

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase model for apparel including knit sweaters, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, headgear, and patches sold through e-commerce and retail locations. Revenue generated from individual transaction prices ranging from $15 to $109 per item.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SOUNDOFF designs, sells, and ships its own line of urban streetwear apparel, including knit sweaters, graphic t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, headgear, and interchangeable patches, with a proprietary Patch & Wear™ modular customization system. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront, a permanent Chicago retail studio, and event-driven pop-ups, supplemented by licensed collegiate and Chicago Sky collaborative collections.

Product overview

SOUNDOFF is a Chicago-based streetwear and urban apparel brand offering a diverse product portfolio centered on knitwear, patches, headgear, and graphic apparel. The core offerings include SOUNDOFF Knit Sweaters with collegiate varsity-inspired designs, the Patch & Wear™ modular interchangeable patch system, Collegiate Patches for universities, Headgear (snapbacks, beanies, hats), Sweatshirts and Thermals, T-Shirts, and customizable apparel options. The brand also features the Sky By You custom knitwear collection created in collaboration with the WNBA Chicago Sky team. Products range from premium graphic t-shirts featuring cultural themes (FreedomGram Juneteenth, Flip the Script, Pride) to embroidered hoodies in the Heart of City series. The Patch & Wear™ system serves as a key differentiator, allowing modular customization across compatible apparel items.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PATCH & WEAR™: Interchangeable patch accessory system allowing customization of hats and apparel with detachable patches

Products and services

• Knit Sweaters Premium knit sweaters including collegiate styles, argyle patterns, and the SOUNDOFF Knit collection featuring varsity-inspired designs with chenille interlock patches, sold to individual consumers.
• Patch & Wear™ Trademarked modular accessory system featuring interchangeable PVC, sublimated, and chenille patches that attach to compatible apparel items including snapback hats and garments with embroidered receiving areas.
• Collegiate Patches Embroidered chenille patches featuring varsity and crest designs for universities including DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, and Michigan State University, designed to be used with the Patch & Wear™ system.
• Headgear Snapbacks, beanies, scarves, and baseball caps featuring Patch & Wear™ compatibility, headphone embroidery, and various materials including corduroy, suede, denim, and organic canvas.
• Sweatshirts and Thermals Crewneck sweatshirts, hooded pullovers, and raglan crewnecks including the Bad Bunny Headphones collection, Heart of City series (Chicago, NYC, LA, DMV), and heavyweight/midweight hoodies.
• T-Shirts Graphic t-shirts, long sleeve tees, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops featuring cultural themes, Chicago pride designs, and pop art graphics.
• Sky By You Custom Knitwear Made-to-order collegiate knitwear customization program in collaboration with WNBA Chicago Sky, allowing customers to design bespoke knit styles including cardigans, crewnecks, V-neck vests, and short-sleeve knits with team-inspired patterns and embroidered patches.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Chicago SkycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive collaboration with WNBA Chicago Sky team for Sky By You made-to-order knitwear collection. Partnership includes pop-up retail at Wintrust Arena during home games, custom design program featuring team branding, mascot Skye graphics, and Chicago Sky-themed patterns. Joint go-to-market includes game-day activations and co-branded limited edition merchandise.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• State Forty Eight: Chicago-based DTC brand combining streetwear aesthetics with state-pride and collegiate identity apparel — the closest comparable to SOUNDOFF's college/city-pride custom knitwear positioning.
• Homage: DTC apparel brand built around nostalgic cultural, sports, and entertainment graphics sold through owned e-commerce — directly comparable to SOUNDOFF's graphic tee and sweatshirt storytelling approach.
• BreakingT: Sports and entertainment-licensed apparel brand producing made-to-order and limited-drop merchandise tied to athletic moments — comparable to SOUNDOFF's Sky By You licensed, event-driven product model.
• Custom Ink: Custom apparel platform enabling personalized decoration on shirts, hats, and fleece, with both group and individual ordering — analogous to SOUNDOFF's customization-first Patch & Wear and made-to-order knitwear capabilities.
• The Mountain: Graphic apparel brand selling premium printed tees with cultural, artistic, and nature-themed designs through DTC channels — overlaps with SOUNDOFF's graphic t-shirt product line and price tier.
• Stoney Clover Lane: Customizable accessories brand known for modular patches, charms, and personalization on bags and apparel — functionally similar to SOUNDOFF's Patch & Wear™ modular customization ethos in the accessories space.

Broad incumbents

• Champion (Hanesbrands): Heritage streetwear and collegiate apparel brand at massive scale with university licensing programs across hundreds of schools — competes with SOUNDOFF's college merchandise and streetwear hoodies but at vastly greater breadth.
• Fanatics: Dominant licensed sports merchandise platform carrying official WNBA, NBA, and collegiate apparel — the entrenched incumbent counterpart to SOUNDOFF's Chicago Sky partnership and collegiate licensing strategy.
• Etsy: Marketplace hosting thousands of independent sellers of patches, custom patches, chenille varsity patches, and small-batch apparel — competes with SOUNDOFF's Patch & Wear™ and collegiate patch categories on discovery and assortment.

Emerging players

• Little Words Project: Emerging customizable accessory brand built around wearable word beads and small-batch branded products marketed through social and community-led drops — comparable emerging archetype to SOUNDOFF's customization-led DTC streetwear positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soundoffdesign
• Facebookfacebook.com/soundoffdesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/soundoffdesign
• TikToktiktok.com/@soundoffdesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soundoffdesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOUNDOFF