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Starter
USINFO | 2013-05-30 11:41
Starter is an American manufacturer of fleeces, footwear, compressions, and other accessories. Starter was founded in 1971 in New Haven, Connecticut by David Beckerman, a former basketball player for Southern Connecticut State University, to manufacture team uniforms for high school athletic programs.
In 1976, the company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreement with a number of professional sports league, paying royalties of 8-10% for the right to manufacture and market copies of professional athletic apparel. Its first retail product was a line of jackets emblazoned with the insignias of Major League Baseball teams. Soon the company expanded its licensed apparel line to include into headgear, activewear and accessories.
In 1979, the company became one of the first licensees to supply clothing worn on the field by professional teams through an agreement to manufacture satin jackets for players on Major League baseball teams. Starter incorporated this design into streetwear, and was, in the words of Business Week reporter Tim Smart, the "first to make team jackets out of satin, instead of the usual cheap nylon".
Starter has partnered with Walmart and is sold exclusively there. On November 15, 2007, Iconix Brand Group bought the Starter brand from Nike, Inc. In 2009, Starter signed an exclusive endorsement agreement with quarterback Tony Romo, who will be the featured brand ambassador for Starter's national advertising. Starter now manufactures clothing like compression shirts, similar to Under Armour brand compression shirts, compression shorts, basketball shorts, snapbacks for other companies/brands (eg. Treated Crew, A Bathine Ape, Staple, Element and LMC just to name a few), basketball sneakers, tennis shoes, sport team logo-less jackets, slide sandals, and more. Starter also has a Tony Romo line of track pants, jerseys, jackets, and more. On March 12, 2013 it was announced that Starter would be relaunching the Starter satin jacket in the Fall 2013.
In 1976, the company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreement with a number of professional sports league, paying royalties of 8-10% for the right to manufacture and market copies of professional athletic apparel. Its first retail product was a line of jackets emblazoned with the insignias of Major League Baseball teams. Soon the company expanded its licensed apparel line to include into headgear, activewear and accessories.
In 1979, the company became one of the first licensees to supply clothing worn on the field by professional teams through an agreement to manufacture satin jackets for players on Major League baseball teams. Starter incorporated this design into streetwear, and was, in the words of Business Week reporter Tim Smart, the "first to make team jackets out of satin, instead of the usual cheap nylon".
Starter has partnered with Walmart and is sold exclusively there. On November 15, 2007, Iconix Brand Group bought the Starter brand from Nike, Inc. In 2009, Starter signed an exclusive endorsement agreement with quarterback Tony Romo, who will be the featured brand ambassador for Starter's national advertising. Starter now manufactures clothing like compression shirts, similar to Under Armour brand compression shirts, compression shorts, basketball shorts, snapbacks for other companies/brands (eg. Treated Crew, A Bathine Ape, Staple, Element and LMC just to name a few), basketball sneakers, tennis shoes, sport team logo-less jackets, slide sandals, and more. Starter also has a Tony Romo line of track pants, jerseys, jackets, and more. On March 12, 2013 it was announced that Starter would be relaunching the Starter satin jacket in the Fall 2013.
