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In 1919, in Rochester, New York, brothers Abe and Bill Fainbloom began manufacturing sports and outdoor clothing and named their business «Champion Knitting Mills». In the same year, «thick cotton sweaters» (hoodies) of the new company revolutionized the outfit of athletes. Yes, today it is difficult to meet a football player or a runner in the «champion» outfit, but it is absolutely unimportant.
In the 1970s, the famous C-logo appeared, without which it is now impossible to release a single product of the brand, as well as new contracts for the supply of equipment.
Champion reverse weave — The idea for the Reverse Weave technology came about after the brand spoke to coaches on varsity teams. They were satisfied with the soft and comfortable Champion clothes, but after numerous washes, like the products of other companies, they lost their shape and shrank. In response to a request to solve this problem, the company has developed a new «reverse weaving» method. To avoid horizontal shrinkage, the fibrous fleece was turned vertically during spinning, hence the name Reverse Weave.
All Champion Reverse Weave products also feature two side panels on the sides. Elastic inserts provide additional comfort during sports and do not allow things to sit in any direction. Even the cuffs, collar and hem of the sweatshirt have the same characteristics, thus guaranteeing warmth during and after training.
The women’s sports bras, soon named Jogbra, were created by two female runner friends. They sewed the first products from men’s underwear. To make one bra, two men’s support sports briefs were ruined. Sewing together the details from them, the girls received a comfortable bra that reliably supported the female form while running. The resulting product was patented under the name Jogbra. For the first time they began to sell them in one thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven. Since then, they have occupied the first places in the top sellers and are still called bestsellers.
But Champion did not stop there, and in 1997 presented the world with its first collection of sports backpacks and bags.
In the 2000s, for example, Champion expanded their underwear offer and began producing Champion Silver. Basically, this is a new line of Jogbra support sportswear, for the manufacture of which Static-X fabric was used. This fabric uses an innovative silver-coated fiber weave technology to keep bacteria out and odor-free. The Champion Silver collection featured bras, T-shirts, shorts, tops, and the brand’s next innovation was the Tactel line of seamless sportswear for women. Tactel is a high-tech nylon that provides fit, comfort, moisture control and support.
By the way, in addition to jersey, the company produced good basketball shoes. One of the Champion athletes was the legendary Robert Parish.
The company is now a subsidiary of HanesBrands Inc.
