US Airforce Veteran Transforms Uniforms for Women with Support from Forward
March 13, 2025
In June 2021, TORCH Warriorwear was founded with a mission to create comfortable, well-fitting apparel that empowered women in the military. Its visionary founder, Haley McClain Hill, a former Air Force servicewoman, saw an opportunity to design bodysuits that truly fit and celebrated women in the service, blending style with comfort and functionality. TORCH was created to fill that need, offering uniform essentials that allow women to perform their duties while feeling both comfortable and powerful.
With a passion for helping women feel confident, she started by addressing the needs of her fellow women in the Air Force. As a fan of bodysuits, she envisioned uniform pieces that reflected the comfort and confidence of her favorite at-home outfits, but with the durability and practicality required for military life. However, what began as a niche product soon resonated far beyond her initial expectations. After posting about TORCH on TikTok, the response was overwhelming. The brand’s reach expanded beyond the Air Force to include women from the Navy, Army, and even international military branches. Her designs were empowering women worldwide.
It wasn’t until a year and a half into running TORCH that Haley realized she needed additional capital to keep up with the growing demand. After winning $50,000 in a veteran-focused Shark Tank competition, she knew she needed more funding to fuel the next stage of growth. Her goals were clear: stock up on inventory, create new product drops, and attend larger, high-profile marketing events. Additionally, she wanted to invest in technology—improving email and text marketing, and enhancing TORCH’s website to better engage her customers.
Initially unfamiliar with revenue-based financing, she discovered Forward Financing and was immediately drawn to the financing model, which didn’t involve giving up equity. The team at Forward made her feel supported from the start, with transparent communication that never felt pushy, a concern she had with other funding options.
With Forward’s financial support, TORCH has tripled its sales year over year. It also gave her the opportunity to sponsor both Ms. USA and Ms. America, who are veterans themselves, helping to raise TORCH’s profile and mission. But it’s not just about sales – thanks to the funding, TORCH was also able to establish the Women Warrior Scholarship, offering a $2,500 scholarship and an internship at TORCH for entrepreneurial-minded women veterans.
For Haley, Forward is more than just a financing company – it’s truly been like a partner for her and her business. “As a minority woman, it’s hard to receive funding. I’ve been told ‘no’ a lot, so having a partner who believes in me means everything,” she explains. “It’s a fair partnership that allows me to live out my dreams.”
Interested in learning more about how Forward can help your business? Check out our product or submit your application today. Still have questions? Give us a call at 888-244-9099 or email us at info@forwardfinancing.com, our team is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.