Champion (sportswear)

Last updated

Champion
FormerlyKnickerbocker Knitting Co.
(1919–1930s)
Champion Knitting Mills Inc.
(1930s–present)
Company type Private (1919–89)
Subsidiary (1989–present)
Industry Textile, footwear
Founded1919;105 years ago (1919)
FounderFeinbloom Brothers
FateAcquired by the Sara Lee Corporation in 1989, then other owners
Headquarters,
Number of locations
38 stores (2021) [1]
Area served
Products Clothing, footwear
Parent Hanesbrands
Website champion.com

Champion (also stylized as Champion U.S.A.) is a brand of clothing, specializing in sportswear owned and marketed by American apparel company Hanesbrands (based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina), which was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation in 2006. The company was originally based in Rochester, New York, prior to its acquisition by Sara Lee in 1989. [2] Champion is Hanes' second-largest brand.

Contents

Products manufactured and commercialized by Champion include casual wear clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, leggings, shorts, jackets, undergarment), footwear (sandals, sneakers, socks), and accessories (bags, hats, collectibles).

History

The company was established in 1919 by the Feinbloom Brothers as "Knickerbocker Knitting Company." [3] The company soon signed an agreement with the Michigan Wolverines to produce uniforms for their teams. In the 1930s the company was renamed "Champion Knitting Mills Inc.", producing sweatshirts and hoodies. Soon after, Champion products were adopted by the US Military Academy to be used during training exercises and physical education classes. [4]

Champion was acquired by Sara Lee Corporation in 1989. [5] Champion produced uniforms for all the NBA teams during the 1990s and some NFL teams during the 1970s to the 1990s, for both on-field and retail purposes. It has also produced sportswear for many major colleges. [6] Champion was also the uniform manufacturer of the Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics. [4]

From 2008, Champion produced kits for Premier League side, Wigan Athletic, the Wales national soccer team and the jersey of the Greek basketball team, [7] also Pallacanestro Cantù, in Italy.

Champion supplied the football uniforms for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In 2001 Notre Dame signed a five-year exclusive agreement with Adidas, which ended a partnership Champion had with the university that spanned over 50 years. [8]

In June 2024, Hanesbrands announced plans to sell the Champion brand to Authentic Brands for $1.2 billion. [9]

Sponsorships

Basketball

Past sponsorships

In the past, Champion manufactured uniforms mostly for basketball and American football teams, most notable its long-time partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that extended until 2004, when Reebok took over. [11] Champion also sponsored International association FIBA until 2017. [12]

The following is a list of some of them:

American/Canadian football

1994 Buffalo Bills' Jim Kelly jersey made by Champion Pro Football Hall of Fame (23945068597).jpg
1994 Buffalo Bills' Jim Kelly jersey made by Champion

Soccer

Basketball

Indiana Pacers' Jamaal Tinsley jersey by Champion, worn in 2001 Indiana pacers jamaal tinsley jersey.jpg
Indiana Pacers' Jamaal Tinsley jersey by Champion, worn in 2001

Lacrosse

Merchandising licenses

Replica jersey uniforms made by Champion in the licensed sports business:

Related Research Articles

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Gaze</span> Australian basketball player (born 1965)

Andrew Barry Casson Gaze is an Australian former professional basketball player and coach. He played 22 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Melbourne Tigers from 1984 to 2005, winning the league's MVP award seven times and winning the scoring title 14 times. He also guided the Tigers to two NBL championships, in 1993 and 1997, and was named an All-NBL First Team member for a record 15 consecutive years. Gaze has been described as one of the greatest players Australia has ever produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Kukoč</span> Croatian basketball player (born 1968)

Toni Kukoč is a Croatian former professional basketball player who serves as Special Advisor to Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago Bulls. After a highly successful period in European basketball, he was one of the first established European stars to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kukoč played for four NBA teams between 1993 and 2006, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1996. He is a three-time NBA champion, having won championships with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Armour</span> American sports clothing and accessories company

Under Armour, Inc. is an American sportswear company that manufactures footwear and apparel headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson Sporting Goods</span> American sports equipment manufacture

The Wilson Sporting Goods Company is an American sports equipment manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois. Wilson makes equipment for many sports, among them baseball, badminton, American football, basketball, fastpitch softball, golf, racquetball, soccer, squash, tennis, pickleball and volleyball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Woolridge</span> American basketball player (1959–2012)

Orlando Vernada Woolridge was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1981 to 1994. He was known for his scoring ability, especially on slam dunks. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. is an American sports-related clothing company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company was established in 1904 as a sports equipment manufacturer, remaining as the oldest sporting company in Philadelphia. After several years of making baseball and American football uniforms, the company switched direction in 1983, when it decided to recreate vintage jerseys.

David Lee Rivers is an American former professional basketball player and coach. A 5’11”(1.80 m ) tall point guard, he reached star status in the EuroLeague, mainly while playing with Olympiacos, under head coach Dušan Ivković. Rivers played 3 seasons in the NBA, one with the Los Angeles Lakers (1988–89) and two more with the Los Angeles Clippers. He played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanes</span> American clothing brand

Hanes and Hanes Her Way is a brand of clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reebok</span> Footwear and clothing company

Reebok International Limited is an American fitness footwear and clothing brand that is a part of Authentic Brands Group. It was established in England in 1958 as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company which had been founded in 1895 in Bolton, Lancashire. From 1958 until 1986, the brand featured the flag of the United Kingdom in its logo to signify the origins of the company. It was bought by German sporting goods company Adidas in 2005, then sold to the United States-based Authentic Brands Group in 2021. The company's global headquarters are located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Seaport District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISC (sportswear)</span> Australian sportswear company

ISC is an Australian clothing manufacturer. The company was founded in the Sydney suburb of Rosebery in 1991. ISC mainly manufactures team uniforms for several sports, including Australian football, rugby league, rugby union, association football, cricket, basketball, netball as well as schoolwear. ISC also produces licensed casual wear clothing such as polo shirts, hoodies, jackets, and caps.

Kenneth Barlow is an American former professional basketball player. Barlow graduated from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana.

The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represents Boise State University in the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos are led by head coach Leon Rice, hired in March 2010, and play their home games on campus at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho. BSU's most recent appearance in the NCAA tournament was in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starter (clothing line)</span> American clothing manufacturer

Starter, Inc. is an American clothing manufacturer, focusing on major league sports teams. Starter's current licenses include MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL teams. Non-sports agreements include a partnership with Coca-Cola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peak Sport Products</span> Chinese sportswear/sports equipment company

Peak Sport Products Co., Limited is a Chinese manufacturing company of sportswear and footwear based in Quanzhou. Founded in 1989 as a shoe manufacturer, the company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2009, however due to low performance on the stock exchange, it had been acquired in August 2017.

The following are the basketball events of the year 2011 throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Athletic</span> American clothing manufacturer

Russell Athletic is an American clothing manufacturer based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Currently a subsidiary of global company Fruit of the Loom, Russell Athletic was the main brand of Russell Brands, LLC. until its acquisition in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketball uniform</span> Type of uniform worn by basketball players

A basketball uniform is a type of uniform worn by basketball players. Basketball uniforms consist of a jersey that features the number and typically the last name of the player on the back, as well as shorts and athletic shoes. Within teams, players wear uniforms representing the team colors; the home team usually wears a lighter-colored uniform, while the visiting team wears a darker-colored uniform.

Mustapha Khalfi is a Moroccan professional basketball player. He currently plays for the AS Salé club of the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup and the Nationale 1, Morocco's first division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Ever</span> Australian sportswear company

First Ever Pty Ltd. is an Australian manufacturing company located in Melbourne. The company was established in 2018, and was the official manufacturer and supplier of sportswear and clothing for the National Basketball League during the 2018–19 and 201920 seasons, and is the current manufacturer for Softball Australia. The company is also known for its production and distribution of "ath-street" clothing inspired by the culture and heritage of Melbourne.

References

  1. "Champion stores in the United States" . Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  2. Key, Janet (February 14, 1989). "Sara Lee Adds Champion Sportswear To Wardrobe". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  3. Wilson, Denis (April 3, 2012). "The History of the Hoodie". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  4. 1 2 About us on Champion-eu website
  5. Robb, Gregory A. (February 14, 1989). "Champion Products Accepts Bid". The New York Times.
  6. JARochNY (October 21, 2010), Abraham and William Feinbloom, Champion Products, Inc., archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved June 5, 2018
  7. Champion presents the new Greek national basketball team jersey Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Dame, ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre (July 22, 2005). "Adidas allegiance // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame". magazine.nd.edu. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. Conlon, Sean (June 5, 2024). "Hanesbrands to sell Champion brand to Authentic Brands in $1.2 billion deal". CNBC. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  10. "National Basketball League | NBL". NBL.com.au. National Basketball League. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Reebok signs deal with NBA by Richard Sandomir, NY Times, August 2001
  12. FIBA firma alianza estratégica con la icónica marca Nike on FIBA.com, February 27, 2017
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NFL official uniform suppliers at the Gridiron Uniform Database
  14. NY Cosmos jersey history on NASL Jerseys
  15. REEBOK LANDS $200 MILLION+ NBA DEAL on Adage.com, August 2, 2001
  16. Cyprus Basketball Federation, http://www.basketball.org.cy/ Archived 2010-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved October 1, 2015. (in Greek)