Champion
- Founded
- 1919-01-01 in Rochester, New York, USA
- Headquarters
- New York City, New York, USA
- business@champion.tm
Champion is an American athletic and lifestyle apparel brand with a history dating back to 1919. Originally founded as the Knickerbocker Knitting Mills in Rochester, New York, the company was renamed Champion Knitwear Mills, Inc. in the 1920s by the Feinbloom brothers. It is widely recognized as the inventor of the hooded sweatshirt (hoodie) in 1934, a garment originally designed to keep athletes warm on the sidelines. Over the decades, Champion established itself as a staple in collegiate and professional sports uniform manufacturing, later evolving into a globally recognized streetwear and athleisure brand. Today, Champion is owned and marketed by Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a New York‑based brand management company. The brand remains known for its iconic “C” logo, the Reverse Weave fabric construction, and a product line that includes hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, t‑shirts, and performance gear. Despite its strong heritage in American sportswear, Champion operates purely in the apparel industry and has no direct involvement in iGaming or gambling.
Detailed Review
Champion’s story began on May 6, 1919, when Simon Feinbloom and his sons Bill and Abe founded the Knickerbocker Knitting Mills in Rochester, New York. Two years later, the Feinbloom brothers took full ownership, renamed the company Champion Knitwear Mills, and incorporated it on January 3, 1924. Early on, the brand forged a direct‑to‑institution sales model, supplying uniforms to military academies and schools. This approach led to deep relationships with coaches and athletes, which in turn drove product innovation.
The brand’s most notable innovation came in 1934 with the invention of the hooded sweatshirt—originally called a “hoodie”—patented in 1938. This garment became a defining piece of American sportswear. Throughout the mid‑20th century, Champion supplied uniforms for major professional sports leagues and hundreds of NCAA teams. The company changed ownership several times: it was acquired by Sara Lee in 1989, later spun off, and eventually sold to Authentic Brands Group, which now owns the Champion trademark worldwide.
Today, Champion products are sold through dedicated e‑commerce sites (champion.com and championstore.com) as well as through retail partners globally. The brand’s current product line includes Reverse Weave® sweatshirts and hoodies, joggers, t‑shirts, performance activewear, and team‑licensed apparel. While Champion has collaborated with high‑fashion designers and streetwear influencers, it remains primarily an athletic and casual apparel brand. No evidence in the provided search results suggests any expansion into iGaming, gambling, or gambling‑adjacent services.
Key Products
Reverse Weave Hoodies & Sweatshirts
Original hooded sweatshirt line, known for its dense fleece construction that resists shrinkage.
Champion T‑Shirts & Performance Tees
Basic and logo‑logo tees, including moisture‑wicking options for sports.
Teamwear & College Apparel
Licensed uniforms and fan wear for NCAA and professional teams.
Collaborations (e.g., Defected x Champion)
Limited‑edition collections with brands like Defected (house music culture).
Champion Joggers & Sweatpants
Cuffed athletic pants in cotton fleece and performance blends.