Stefan Loble

Post-pitch story

Stefan Loble pitched Bluffworks as travel clothing for people who actually travel — wrinkle-free, pocket-laden, wash-it-in-a-hotel-sink apparel. The years after the show tested that traveler spirit like nothing else: when the pandemic grounded every flight in 2020, a travel apparel brand was about the worst business to be in. Loble has written candidly that the company nearly closed, surviving only by slashing costs and negotiating debt forbearance. But Bluffworks came out the other side. In 2024 the company opened a new investment round to solve inventory shortages and fund growth, and in October 2026 it signed Cart.com as its exclusive U.S. fulfillment partner, a move expected to cut costs by 20%. Loble is still founder and CEO, still writing unusually honest updates to his customers about the highs and lows of running the company. The pitch promised clothes built for the long haul — turns out that described the company too.