THE AUTHENTIC
AMERICAN SPORTSWEAR BRAND
Our History isn’t Brief!
It all started in Alexander City, Alabama USA, in May 1902, with 10 sewing machines, 8 knitting machines, and a 26 year old man named Benjamin Russell.
The original mill produced ladies undershirts and children’s undergarments with a beginning capacity of 150 garments daily. In 1910 Russell Manufacturing Co. became an established business. With a long-term commitment to Alexander City, Ben Russell built the town a kindergarten, school, hospital, hotel, laundry, grocery store, bakery and installed the telephone operation.
One of the original factory workers who began work on early production at the newly formed Russell Mill in Alexander City, 1902.
Russell Athletic - true to the spirit of the sport.
The Birth of the Sweatshirt! The ‘Sweatshirt’ is attributed to Benjamin Russell Junior, who was playing football for the University of Alabama at the time. Knowing the comfort and durability of cotton, he suggested to his father that an all-cotton version of the original woollen football jersey be produced in order to avoid the chaffing and discomfort caused by sweating in wool. This change in fabric content resulted in the inception of the ‘sweatshirt’ as we know it today. Russell went on to acquire Southern Manufacturing Company, which gave the company access to athletic team apparel. This was the beginning of the Russell Athletic division’s cutting and sewing operations. Russell began making woven athletic garments, including basketball, baseball and football pants and jackets.
Russell Athletic - true to the spirit of the sport.
Back to School!
Founder Benjamin Russell died on December 16th 1941 and the reins of the company were passed to his son Benjamin C. Russell. During World War Two, Russell’s ‘Athletic’ Division sold primarily to the military. Shirts, drawers, t-shirts, athletic garments and special outer garments were made for the Army and Navy. Benjamin C. Russell died in 1945 and was succeeded as president by his brother, Thomas D. Russell. After the War the company embarked on further expansion and development throughout its knitting, weaving, dyeing, finishing and cutting departments. Alexander City High School was renamed Benjamin Russell High School in honour of the founder of the Russell brand.
Russell Athletic - true to the spirit of the sport.
‘The Eagle has Landed’
During the 1960’s the ‘Athletic’ division was the largest marketer and manufacturer of athletic apparel and uniforms in the USA. By 1962 Russell Manufacturing Company had changed its name to Russell Mills, Inc. and began using the American Eagle to represent its iconic brand image. Then in 1973, the Russell Mills, Inc. name was changed again to Russell Corporation. Manufacturing was also expanded to different locations, first across the Southern USA and later to Scotland, Mexico and Central America.
From Strength to Strength
By the 1990’s Russell Athletic became one of the largest suppliers of athletic team uniforms in Major League Baseball, NFL, college and high school sport programs through to little league. On December 26, 1985 Russell’s Common Stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The brand went from strength to strength and Russell began to add other businesses to its portfolio of brands beginning with the acquisition of the Cross Creek Golf brand. By the 1990’s Russell Athletic was one of the largest suppliers of athletic team uniforms in Major League Baseball, NFL, college and high school sport programs through to little league. In 1995, Russell Corporation’s sales reached US$ 1 billion.
Russell Athletic - true to the spirit of the sport.
‘Happy Anniversary’! In May 2002, Russell celebrated its 100th anniversary. The brand had come a long way from its early origins in Alexander City, Alabama. With more than 14,000 employees, product selling in more than 40 countries and an array of prominent brands in its stable. Today, Russell Athletic continues to produce and market sporting apparel for both male and female professional and amateur athletes of all ages and levels. A brand rich in sporting heritage, Russell sports lifestyle ranges take inspiration combining the old with the new. With an unwavering focus on innovation and quality, Russell is the brand for sports inspired people to get the edge in their active lives. And so the legend lives on.
Russell Athletic - true to the spirit of the sport.
100 YEARS YOUNG
Since the turn of the millennium, Russell has approached the future with new vigour…. We are not just a vintage sportswear brand but ‘The Authentic American Sportswear Brand’ with a passion for life and a sense of fun. Our heritage is sport but our future is about developing into a lifestyle brand that is proud of it’s roots yet relevant to a new generation.
RUSSELL AROUND THE WORLD
An American Icon at ease on the world stage. Russell Athletic continues to build on its heritage, whilst pushing and innovating as a global sportswear brand.
From Japan to Australia and right across Europe, the brand has evolved into a true lifestyle sports brand that remains firmly connected to its heritage and the level of quality that Benjamin Russell installed in the business over 100 years ago.
>SUPERIOR MOISTURE WICKING
>COTTON COMFORT
>GREATER BREATHABILITY
russellathletic.com.au
PREMIUM
‘A Piece of History’
Who doesn’t own a hoody or a sweatshirt? Not many people would be a safe statement. Well, we at Russell pioneered it. The iconic classic was first born from an idea in the early 1900’s by Russell Corporation when the owner Benjamin Russell’s son complained that wool shirts used in football practice were too heavy and uncomfortable. Russell then modified a version of an undergarment into the earliest form of what we know today as the sweatshirt - the hooded sweatshirt soon followed.
above: Benjamin Russell & first product catalogue
The Russell Athletic trademarks速 are used under license from Russell Brands, LLC. Russell has never forgotten that its products are only as good as the people who make them. As we celebrate over 100 years in business Russell Athletic looks to the future with the same sense of excitement and purpose that has driven the company since 1902 from sweet home Alabama.
Russell Corporation Australia 5 Lakeview Drive Scoresby Vic 3179 Phone: +61 3 9765 5999 Email: admin@russellcorp.com.au Website: www.russellathletic.com.au
Russell Athletic Europe Future Brands Ltd. Unit 1 Colonial Business Park Colonial Way, Watford. WD24 4PR Phone: +44 (0)1923 288 550 Email: enquiries@future-brands.com Website: www.russellathletic.eu
FTL JAPAN K.K. MARIX Ebisu Bldg. 3F 4-4-6 Ebisu Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0013 Phone: +81 3 6408 0430 Email: customer@russelljapan.co.jp Website: www.russelljapan.co.jp