Kudla developed the concept in 2014 and opened the first permanent store in Encinitas, California, in 2016 — the same year REI began testing the line, followed by placements at Nordstrom and Equinox. The company reached profitability by 2017 and grew through major funding rounds, including a 2021 SoftBank Vision Fund 2 investment of $400 million.
A 2024 secondary tender led by General Atlantic and Stripes valued the company at roughly $5.5 billion, with founder and CEO Joe Kudla retaining majority ownership. Vuori now runs dozens of US stores plus flagships in SoHo and on London's Regent Street. The name means 'mountain' in Finnish, a nod to Kudla's passion for mountain climbing.