Champion Teamwear

What Champion Teamwear does

Champion Teamwear, Inc. is a privately held, national manufacturer and supplier of custom team uniforms, warm-ups, and practice apparel headquartered at 520 McCall Rd., Manhattan, Kansas. Founded in 1989 under the name GTM Sportswear and rebranded to Champion Teamwear by 2023, the company serves athletic teams across the United States from elementary through collegiate level, as well as club, corporate, and fanwear customers, having outfitted over 1.1 million teams since inception. It operates with approximately 900 employees spanning a nationwide outside sales force, an inside sales and support team, and an in-house production facility, supported by mail-order catalogs, phone and live chat support, and an e-commerce website.

The company's core product is fully custom team apparel, decorated through a portfolio of methods that includes its proprietary UltraFuse dye-sublimation process alongside screen print, direct-to-garment digital printing, embroidery (including 3D embroidery), twill and applique variants, premium rhinestones and sequins, fashion film, sport grip, and various glitter and shimmer treatments. The supporting product portfolio spans stock and custom warm-ups, fleece collections under Champion sub-brands (Powerblend, Reverse Weave), moisture-wicking and compression practice apparel (Double Dry, Active Dri), the Contour spirit wear line, bags and accessories, fanwear, and a corporate clothing offering. Two proprietary webtools — TeamStore and Coach's Assistant — enable coaches and team managers to operate self-serve online stores, run fundraisers, build custom locker kits, and manage order distribution.

Champion Teamwear monetizes through one-time per-order custom uniform and decoration sales priced by quote, with transaction-based volume discounts of 15–20% for full-season bundles, free 60-day sizing samples as a customer acquisition tool, and a 10% first-purchase email sign-up promotion. Distribution and demand generation span both inside and outside sales, direct e-commerce, free catalogs by mail, broad social media presence, and a flagship professional sports league partnership with the Premier Lacrosse League that extends Champion's brand into professional-grade uniforms and replica jerseys. Free decoration mockups, dedicated sales-rep design assistance, and 2-week decorated-apparel turnaround times constitute the primary commercial differentiators cited by the company.

Name

Champion Teamwear

Legal name

Champion Teamwear, Inc.

Website

https://championteamwear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Champion Teamwear manufactures and supplies custom-decorated team uniforms, sportswear, and apparel for K-12 schools, colleges, club sports, and corporate customers across the United States, using in-house production and multiple proprietary decoration methods including UltraFuse dye-sublimation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Athletic Team Apparel and Uniforms

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Team & School Athletic Uniforms Retail (CRAMACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Team & Promotional Apparel Cut & Sew (Screenprint/Embroidery-Ready) (IMAOAEAK), Team Sports & On-Field Performance Apparel (CRAAAEAE), Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail (CRAMABAE)

Keywords

• Custom team uniforms
• Athletic apparel manufacturing
• Sportswear decoration services
• Dye sublimation printing
• Teamwear wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Uniform and Apparel Sales: The company generates revenue through the sale of custom-embellished uniforms, warm-ups, practice apparel, and accessories for athletic teams. Products include uniforms, jackets, pants, hoodies, tees, shoes, bags, and hats. Both custom and stock/blank options are available.
2. Decoration and Embellishment Services: Revenue generated from applying various decoration processes to apparel including screen printing, embroidery, twill, rhinestones, sequins, UltraFuse sublimation, and specialty finishes like glitter and premium rhinestones.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Champion Teamwear manufactures and supplies custom-embellished athletic uniforms, warm-ups, and practice apparel for K-12 schools, colleges, club teams, corporations, and professional sports organizations. Orders are fulfilled through an in-house production facility using decoration methods including UltraFuse dye sublimation, screen printing, embroidery, twill, applique, rhinestones, sequins, and premium films. The company also offers self-service web tools (TeamStore and Coach's Assistant) for team ordering, fundraisers, and apparel distribution.

Product overview

Champion Teamwear is a national provider of custom-embellished uniforms, warm-ups, and practice apparel for athletic teams. The product portfolio centers on custom team uniforms customizable via multiple decoration methods including UltraFuse dye-sublimation, screen print, embroidery, twill, rhinestones, sequins, and glitter applications. Supporting product lines include Powerblend Fleece and Reverse Weave fleece collections, Double Dry moisture-wicking practice wear, compression gear, Active Dri training apparel, and the Contour spirit wear collection. The company offers web-based ordering tools (TeamStore and Coach's Assistant) for team management and distribution. Decoration services range from basic screen printing to premium embellishments including 3D embroidery, premium rhinestones, and fully custom UltraFuse sublimation. Products serve elementary through collegiate athletic programs across sports including cheerleading, dance, track, volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, wrestling, tennis, golf, lacrosse, swimming, and band.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Team Uniforms Customer-designed uniforms for K-12, collegiate, club, and professional athletic teams, customizable with team colors, mascots, logos, and a wide range of decoration methods.
• Warm-Ups Athletic warm-up jackets and pants for teams, available in stock and custom styles across multiple sports.
• Practice Apparel Affordable training and practice wear including tees, tanks, shorts, and compression gear designed for durability and athletic performance.
• Powerblend Fleece Collection Midweight fleece apparel featuring cotton/polyester blend with double-needle stitching for long-lasting comfort and durability.
• Reverse Weave Collection Iconic heavyweight fleece apparel engineered to resist shrinking and maintain fit after repeated washing, featuring cotton fleece construction.
• Compression Wear Performance compression tees, tanks, and shorts in various sleeve lengths designed for athletic training and competition.
• Active Dri Collection Performance activewear collection designed for training with moisture-wicking and odor-resistant properties.
• Contour Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.1 million teams outfitted since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Champion Teamwear serves as the Official On-Field & Sideline Apparel Partner of the Premier Lacrosse League powered by Ticketmaster. The multi-year agreement includes production of all official on-field uniforms, replica jerseys, and PLL apparel for players, coaches, and staff. The partnership expanded from a previous one-year role as Official Sideline Apparel Partner in 2021. The five-year deal demonstrates Champion's long-term commitment to supporting the sport of lacrosse both on and off the field. PLL Co-Founder and President Paul Rabil noted that Champion's mission of paving the way for the Champions of Tomorrow aligns with the PLL's work.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BSN Sports: One of the largest US distributors of team sports apparel and equipment, serving schools, leagues, and clubs with both stock and custom uniforms. Direct overlap with Champion Teamwear in K-12 athletic uniform supply, decoration services, and sales-rep-led GTM.
• Eastbay (Fanatics Team Sports): Long-standing team uniform and footwear retailer serving high school and college athletes with custom and stock apparel. Competes directly with Champion Teamwear for the high school and college team uniform business through catalogs and digital channels.
• Augusta Sportswear: US-based team athletic apparel manufacturer and decorator offering sublimation, screen print, and embroidery for schools, leagues, and teams. Direct competitor on decoration capabilities, customization service, and team dealer/distribution model.
• Badger Sportswear: Manufactures and decorates custom athletic uniforms and apparel for schools and teams with a similar multi-decoration offering. Direct peer on custom team uniforms, decoration services, and school-channel distribution.
• Champro Sports: Manufacturer and wholesaler of team athletic apparel and equipment focused on sports like baseball, softball, football, and basketball. Comparable to Champion Teamwear in serving team sports uniform needs across K-12 and leagues.
• Holloway Sportswear: US athletic apparel and uniform manufacturer with custom decoration and wholesale distribution into schools and teams. Overlaps with Champion Teamwear on custom team apparel production and decorator-channel distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Russell Athletic: Heritage team uniform brand offering stock and custom apparel across football, basketball, and other sports with broad distribution into schools and leagues. Larger incumbent competitor in custom team apparel with overlapping decoration capabilities and brand recognition.
• Under Armour (Team Uniforms): Global athletic apparel incumbent with a team sports division offering custom uniforms to high schools, colleges, and select pro leagues. Competes in Champion Teamwear's core K-12/college category with stronger brand pull and broader marketing budgets.
• Nike (Team Sports / BSN): Global athletic apparel giant with an extensive custom team sports business across performance apparel, footwear, and uniforms for schools and leagues. Direct overlap with Champion Teamwear on team uniform category but with vastly larger scale and brand.

Emerging players

• Boombah: US-based performance apparel and gear company offering custom uniforms and apparel for baseball, softball, and other team sports. Comparable emerging private competitor focused on fast custom-uniform turnaround for club and school teams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/championteams
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChampionTeamwear
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChampionTeamwear
• Instagraminstagram.com/championteamwear
• Pinterestpinterest.com/championteamwear
• TikToktiktok.com/@championteamwear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Champion Teamwear