Let’s cut through the Shark Tank hype. We’ve all seen the founders cry. We’ve all watched the Sharks wage war for a slice of the next big thing. But for every Scrub Daddy, there’s a dozen brands that tank after those bright studio lights fade. So when Frill Clothing strutted onto Season 6, eyebrows shot up—fast. Why? Two college founders, a niche nobody else touched, and a pitch that turned heads.
But the real question: Was Frill Clothing’s on-air deal with Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran a one-way ticket up, or just another blip in Shark Tank history? You want numbers, facts, and actual business lessons. Good—because that’s what you’ll get here.
Meet the Founders: Kate Steadman and Sharon Bui
Forget the cliché of trust fund kids launching a startup with dad’s Amex. Kate Steadman and Sharon Bui did this the old school way: scraping together $500 of their own cash while juggling college classes. Sharon, for the record, wasn’t just a business major; she studied fashion and textile management at NC State—meaning she actually knew how to bring a garment from concept to real-life fabric.
Right from the jump, these two proved something: hustle beats a business plan every time. No VC handouts. No Silicon Valley nonsense. Just a simple question: Why doesn’t someone make custom clothes that sororities actually want to wear? Their drive gave this business teeth, and the Sharks smelled it, even through the reality TV sparkle.
What Frill Clothing Sells (And Why It Worked)
Every year, sororities spend thousands trying to look unique during rush—but buying off the rack means running into other Greek chapters wearing the same thing. Frill Clothing’s angle was brilliant: make each chapter’s clothes truly one-of-a-kind. You want your sisters in powder blue and ruffled dresses? They’d stitch it up. Next campus over, totally different look.
That’s not just a product, that’s a painkiller. Custom pieces cost them $24 a pop but sold for $60 to $70. That’s serious margin. Over 3,000 sorority chapters lined up, wallets open. Why? Because nobody wants to be that chapter stuck in a fancy version of a uniform.
Even as they talked to the Sharks, Kate and Sharon were already eyeing the bridal market. That’s what winning founders do. See the future. Move fast.
Frill Clothing Net Worth—Let’s Get Real About the Numbers
Here’s the straight-up math at pitch time: $400,000 in lifetime sales, asking $100,000 for 20%. By Shark standards, that’s a $500,000 post-money valuation—modest, but it matched their numbers.
A year out, most companies can only dream of traction like this from a scrap-bootstrapped business. Fast-forward after Shark Tank, the company scored a significant valuation bump. Why? Hitting bigger order volumes improves margins; more chapters means network effects; and TV exposure sent orders through the roof.
Current public numbers (as reported by SharkWorth and updates through 2024) peg Frill Clothing’s net worth at over $1 million. That’s not Lululemon money, but it’s a big leap from two college founders sewing in a dorm.
And let’s be honest: most small businesses never see seven digits. Shark Tank didn’t make these numbers for Frill—they built the foundation. The TV rocket just made them climb faster.
The Shark Tank Pitch: What Everyone Misses
Season 6, Episode 21. If you watched, you remember the energy. Kate and Sharon didn’t just walk in and mumble about fabric—they brought their friends to model, opened with a song, then flipped the switch. $400,000 in sales on $500 startup money caught the Sharks’ eyes and jaws both.
Their initial ask was $100,000 for 20%. Mark Cuban tapped out early (he’s usually allergic to hyper-niche plays). Lori wasn’t biting. But Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary—yes, Mr. Wonderful—recognized a winner. They teamed up, throwing in $100K for a 30% cut.
A 30% chunk is steep, but here’s the lesson: sometimes, a little extra equity is the difference between treading water and scaling up. I’ve watched founders get greedy at this stage and blow everything; these two knew to play the game.
After the Cameras: The Real Shark Tank Effect
Let’s be brutally honest: TV does not make your business. But it can break your website in twenty minutes flat. Frill Clothing turned their airtime into a sales surge. New sorority chapters flooded in. They also got the mentorship and supply chain clout of their two Sharks.
But it wasn’t a fairy tale. Keeping momentum is hard. The early waves crashed fast, but they surfed them instead of drowning. The founders pushed straight into the bridal market, boosting average order values and opening up a whole new playbook.
Some brands go viral, then go stale. Frill Clothing? They stayed sharp, scaled sensibly, and doubled down on their best market while carefully testing new ones—smart, steady, classic Shark Tank discipline.
Where Is Frill Clothing Now?
Here’s what actually matters years after those cameras stopped rolling. A lot of brands disappear or get bought out for peanuts.
Frill Clothing still stands, focusing on custom Greek life apparel. Their biggest wins? Owning the niche and delivering on the no two outfits alike promise. The bridal line exists, but it never dwarfed their sorority business. They didn’t blow up into a household name, but for the Greek niche, Frill is a trusted go-to.
According to SharkWorth and company filings through early 2024, Frill Clothing is still operational, still private, and still helmed by at least one founder (Sharon Bui stayed on longest; there are rumors of new partners, but Frill’s site keeps the original voice).
So are they as hot as Bombas or Scrub Daddy? No. But then, not every win has to be explosive. Sometimes the lesson is consistency over flash.
Business Lessons from Frill Clothing
Here’s where a real entrepreneur starts taking notes:
- Solve a Real Pain: They didn’t chase cool or tech trends—they answered a killer, urgent need among sororities.
- Margins Matter: A 250% markup gave them ammunition most product founders dream of.
- Stay Lean: $500 to $400,000 in sales—try matching that ROI.
- Don’t Overreach: Expanding too fast kills brands. Frill Clothing grew their core, then tested the bridal market wisely.
- Know When to Give Up Equity: They took a bigger haircut to bring in A-list Sharks. Smart, not greedy.
I’ve coached founders who wanted all the money and none of the dilution. Those are the ones who fumble. Frill Clothing played the numbers game right.
Conclusion: Did the Sharks Make the Right Call?
Let’s call it straight. Kevin and Barbara bought into a war room-ready brand, not a pipe dream. Would Mark Cuban have 10X’ed this? Probably not. But Corcoran knows niche retail, and O’Leary can squeeze margin out of a lemon.
They didn’t mint a unicorn, but they bought a sturdy, profitable, defensible business. Frill Clothing is still swimming—lean, mean, and still making bank off Greek life FOMO.
What’s the real takeaway for hustlers watching from home? Find the gaps, do the work, keep the ego in check—and always be ready to take the deal if it’ll really move the needle.
If you want more gritty updates like this, check out SharkWorth. They cut to the numbers, not just the fairy tales.
FAQs
1. Is Frill Clothing still in business after Shark Tank?
Yes. As of 2024, they’re still serving sororities and exploring bridal products. Not a flash-in-the-pan story.
2. What is Frill Clothing’s current net worth or valuation?
Estimates from SharkWorth and industry sources put it at $1 million+ today.
3. Who owns Frill Clothing now?
Sharon Bui continued to lead after Shark Tank, with some investor involvement. Official founder voices still ring loud.
4. Did the founders stay on after the deal, or did they exit?
Sharon Bui stayed on (at least for several years post-deal). Records show at least partial founder management as of early 2024.
5. What markets does Frill Clothing focus on now—just sororities or other niches too?
Their core remains custom Greek recruitment apparel. Bridal is a sideline, but Greek life pays the bills.
6. Can anyone order from Frill Clothing, or is it still just for Greek life?
Most business is sorority-driven, but some custom orders (like bridal) are open to anyone who fits order requirements.
7. Did the company expand into the bridal market as promised?
Yes—but it didn’t eclipse the Greek vertical. It’s a nice add-on, not the main meal.
8. Did the Shark Tank deal impact their growth long-term?
Absolutely. The Shark Tank effect drove massive short-term growth, and smart advice kept momentum going.
9. Are there any direct competitors to Frill Clothing now?
A few small shops try to bite at their heels, but Frill’s first-mover edge and reputation have kept them ahead.
For up-to-date financial snapshots and off-camera stories, keep Frill on your watch list. They didn’t just get lucky; they executed, adjusted, and kept it real. That’s the whole game—for Shark Tank and beyond.
