04/11/2026
City of Sac®/Champion® Spring/Summer 2026
Champion® is an American sportswear brand founded in Rochester, New York in 1919 by brothers Abe and Bill Feinbloom. Originally known as Knickerbocker Knitting Company, Champion built its reputation on producing durable, high-quality athletic apparel designed to withstand intense physical use.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Champion became a leading supplier of sweatshirts, training gear, and uniforms for college athletic programs and the U.S. military. The brand’s focus on heavy cotton fleece, reinforced construction, and functional design helped define modern athletic wear and established Champion as a trusted name in sports performance.
In 1952, Champion introduced one of its most influential innovations, the Reverse Weave®, a construction method engineered to prevent shrinkage and fabric distortion by altering the direction of the garment’s grain. This breakthrough became a cornerstone of Champion’s product line and set a new standard for durability in sportswear.
As the brand expanded through the second half of the 20th century, Champion supplied uniforms to professional sports leagues while also becoming embedded in youth culture. By the 1990s, Champion apparel transitioned from the gym to the streets, embraced by hip-hop, skate, and streetwear communities.
Over more than a century, Champion has continued to evolve while staying rooted in performance, innovation, and enduring quality.