Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang’s mission to revolutionize the fashion industry began with something as simple as socks.
The longtime friends, who had previously partnered on several business ventures, were deep in discussion in early 2020 when they realized the textile industry had remained largely unchanged for decades. While clothing styles had evolved, the fabrics used in garments had stayed the same, something Zhang, with his textile background, was keenly aware of.
Determined to make a change, they decided it was time to rethink how clothes were made. Unlike most fashion brands that source ready-made fabrics to fit their designs, Yun and Zhang wanted to turn that process upside down. They launched their clothing brand, Paire, with the aim of developing custom fabrics tailored to the specific needs of each garment.
And that’s where socks came in.
“Since we were working with limited funds, we decided to start small,” Yun explains. “Socks are a product that come with a lot of issues. They smell, they get too hot in summer, too cold in winter, they wear out quickly, they slip off, and they often lack proper arch support. There’s so much potential for improvement through better materials and design.”
Their mission to create a better sock led them to develop CoolBlend, a unique fabric made from Australian merino wool and organic cotton certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard. This fabric is designed to keep wearers cool in summer, warm in winter, and most importantly, prevent odors and wick moisture. With this innovative fabric, Yun and Zhang introduced what they call “the world’s first stink-free socks.”
“We wanted this product to be a proof of concept,” Yun says. “It was our way of showing that a higher-quality, more sustainable product could find a market—even if it comes at a slightly higher price than typical fast fashion. It was really a statement against fast fashion—showing that consumers would choose better products over cheap, low-quality options.”
The response was overwhelming. Four years later, Paire has sold thousands of pairs of its innovative socks and expanded its range to over 60 products made from seven trademarked materials, all designed to be better for both consumers and the planet. The brand has served over 150,000 customers, gained more than 40,000 Instagram followers, and generated $17 million in revenue. Their product lineup now includes T-shirts, loungewear, and underwear.
In addition to these essentials, Paire has recently ventured into activewear, an area of fashion in need of a major overhaul. Rather than relying on the traditional materials like polyester or nylon, Paire spent two years researching and developing BioFlex, a new fabric made 50% from corn waste. Paire says it’s softer, dries faster, wicks moisture more efficiently, and is far more sustainable than conventional activewear fabrics.
“We took corn stalks—something that is usually discarded and burned—and spun them into fiber,” Yun explains. “We spent a lot of time on R&D to turn that into usable bio-nylon.”
From the beginning, Paire has had the support of its banking partner, NAB, which has helped the brand grow from a small startup with a big idea to a flourishing business.
Zhang says, “We’ve been with NAB from day one. They’ve been incredibly supportive, guiding us through the financial options available to help our business grow—whether that’s a loan, invoice financing, or advice on exchange rates. As a rapidly growing business, these options have been crucial to our success.”
Looking ahead, Yun and Zhang plan to continue expanding Paire’s range while staying true to their core values of creating better, more sustainable everyday basics.
“We don’t design pieces just for the occasional wear,” Zhang says. “We create items that people can wear every day and enjoy for years.”
Yun adds, “The goal is that these products last, both in terms of quality and relevance.”
It’s a simple, but refreshing mission in an industry often more concerned with trends than comfort or longevity.
Zhang concludes, “Other brands focus more on how a jacket or dress looks, and less on how comfortable the underwear is. This opens up a huge opportunity for us to improve and deliver better products.”
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