CLEARWATER — Along one of the main roads in Clearwater, you’ll find an unassuming building labeled, JVS Contracting.

The last thing you’re expecting inside this building would be a modern men’s clothing company.

But, for Robert Felder, this is a place where he’s seen exponential growth for his brand, Bearbottom Clothing.

“Everything we want to wear is what we make,” Felder said.

It’s hard to believe that this dream started when he was only in high school.

When he went to college, he made his initial website in his dorm room at the University of Florida and, over the last nine years, he and his staff have grown this company to where they’ve had to buy extra storage units in the back to fit their supply.

“Whenever I make a three or five year plan we always blow that away so it’s definitely interesting to see,” Felder said.

Even though the pandemic initially dropped sales by about 70 percent, they rose right back to normal relatively quickly.

They’ve essentially doubled in growth year after year and Robert Felder says his staff keep things running smoothly. (Nick Popham/Spectrum Bay News 9)

On top of that, at the end of 2020, he got a great piece of advice from someone in the shipping industry.

“We spoke with someone in the industry and he said you’re going to start seeing bare shelves,” Felder said.

So, with a warning about the supply chain, Bearbottom Clothing increased inventory and were able to keep chugging along without many hiccups.

They’ve essentially doubled in growth year after year and Felder says his staff keep things running smoothly.

“Everyone’s super passionate and dedicated,” said Felder.

You can see that in their packed warehouse.

But Felder says the big driving factor to start has own clothing company is what it could do for others.

Initially, when he started Bearbottom Clothing, they’d donate a pair of shorts for every pair purchased on the site.

Now, since they’ve grown so much, they donate meals to kids overseas in India, where the clothes are made.

“It’s been awesome working with them and getting to see the impact firsthand,” Felder said.

So far, they’ve been able to pay for over 700,000 meals.

“That’s an awesome part of this job and what we do here,” Felder said.

While, from the outside looking in, the unassuming building in Clearwater may seem ordinary, the work inside is making a huge difference for so many, whether they need a meal or just a pair of shorts.