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CHAMPION IS BORN
Three members of the Feinbloom family came together with a vision to create a new, exciting sportwear business in Rochester, NY. The company was started in 1919 as Knickerbocker Knitting Mills.
After developing a line of sweaters and sportswear, Champion partnered with Wentworth Military Academy to provide their school uniform. This would be the first of many teams that Champion supported.
Champion partnered with Moe's Sport Shop to introduce collegiate sweatshirts and tees with University of Michigan Insignia. This gave birth to collegiate apparel as we know it, including the first ever hooded sweatshirt. The hoodie was designed and developed for practical reasons as a warm up or “sideline” garment for athletes to wear in-between game time or practice sessions.
Men
CHAMPION PATENTS THE REVERSE WEAVE SWEATSHIRT
To overcome the shrinkage that came with frequent washing of sports apparel, Champion invented the world's first engineered sweatshirt. Cut on the grossgrain, the Reverse Weave sweatshirt prevents shrinkage and was quickly picked up by sports teams acoss the US. Invented in 1934, Champion applied for patenting in 1938 which was eventually granted in 1952.
CHAMPION INTRODUCES NEW PHYSICAL EDUCATION UNIFORMS
To help address low fitness levels in American children, Champion introduced modern PE uniforms that would be the standard for decades to come. The product line was of such high quality, it was the first to be certifed by the American Institute of Laundering.
Champion's now familiar “C” appeared for the first time and was affixed from then on to the left sleeve of each sweatshirt. This logo and positioning would become synonymous with Champion.
Women
The mesh nylon jersey was first designed to meet the needs of football players, combatting the effects of heat exhaustion and enhancing performance. They were such a success that Champion expanded them to basketball; our jerseys quickly became an industry standard and were copied by many competitors
CHAMPION AND WOMEN'S ATHLETICS
Champion transformed women's athletic market by introducing stylish, mix-and-match Physical Education uniforms in 1968. We became a leader in athletic uniforms in the 70s and have continued our commitment to women through the years with innovative products to serve female athletes, including the pioneering the sports bra.
Champion was the official outfitter of all 27 teams of the National Basketball Association and outfitted every USA basketball team from 1989-2001. Champion's jerseys were proudly worn by the first men's"Dream Team" – the first American Olympic basketball team to feature active professional players from the NBA and the first women's Dream Team in 1996. NBA Champion Glen Rice famously set a record for the Miami Heat wearing Champion shoes.
Kids
To mark the 60th Anniversary of the year when Champion first patented the Reverse Weave Sweatshirt, Champion relaunched the legendary Reverse Weave Sweatshirt across Europe.
Built on the success of almost a century of heritage, Champion establishes itself as a premium player in the world of sport and fashion with its first European store opening in London's iconic Soho district, followed by Amsterdam's trendy Jorddan neighbourhood.
THE CHAMPION HOODIE BECOMES AN ICON
As testament to Champion's rich heritage, the Reverse Weave Hoodie was exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as part of the exhibition 'Items: Is Fashion Modern?' which displayed fashion items that have had a strong impact on modern society. In 2018, the hoodie became part of the permanent collection.
Clothsurgeon joined forces with the heritage sportswear giant Champion to deliver an Ivy League-inspired collection that reenergises the collegiate styles of the 40s-60s. The collection sees classic styles like varsity jackets, letterman hoodies, and cardigans elevated through the expert tailoring that has become synonymous with clothsurgeon, seamlessly. fusing function and style.
Chiara Ferragni, the most famous female digital entrepreneur in the world and globally-renowned sportswear brand Champion Europe joined forces with an energetic SS20 capsule collection.
Inspired by Chiara’s signature aesthetic while paying homage to Champion’s sportswear heritage, classic athleisure staples are reimagined from a hyper-feminine perspective.
