CHAMPION

CHAMPION, The company was founded in 1919 by the Feinbloom Brothers as the "Knickerbocker Knitting Company." Shortly after, they secured a contract to produce uniforms for the Michigan Wolverines. In the 1930s, the company was renamed "Champion Knitting Mills Inc." and began manufacturing sweatshirts. Champion's products were soon adopted by the US Military Academy for training exercises and physical education classes.

In 1989, Champion was acquired by Sara Lee Corporation. During the 1990s, Champion supplied uniforms for all NBA teams and for some NFL teams from the 1970s to the 1990s, both for on-field use and retail. The brand also produced sportswear for many major colleges and was the official kit manufacturer for the Olympic basketball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

From 2008, Champion created kits for Premier League team Wigan Athletic, the Wales national football team, and the Greek basketball team, including Pallacanestro Cantù in Italy. Champion also provided football uniforms for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish until 2001, when Notre Dame signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Adidas, ending a partnership with Champion that had lasted over 50 years.