Champion
Last verified: April 2026
Read our full verification: Is Champion Made in USA?Est. 1919
Champion has been manufacturing products in Winston-Salem, NC since 1919. We carry 5 verified American-made Champion products.
Heritage & History
Champion was founded in 1919 by the Feinbloom family in Rochester, New York as the Knickerbocker Knitting Company, initially making sweaters. The company relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina — the heart of American textile manufacturing — and grew into one of the most important athletic apparel brands in American history.
Champion holds legitimate claim to several American apparel innovations: the sweatshirt (developed in the 1930s for college football teams who needed warm, flexible training gear), and later the sports bra, among other athletic staples. The Reverse Weave sweatshirt — with its horizontal weave that resists the vertical shrinkage that plagued traditional sweatshirts — became an American classic and remains in production today.
An American Athletics Heritage
Champion outfitted American athletes throughout the mid-twentieth century, supplying the Army, outfitting university programs, and eventually becoming the athletic department standard at colleges across the country. Their heavy cotton fleece and durability made them the practical choice for coaches, athletic directors, and anyone who needed gear that would survive the wash cycle.
The brand's Reverse Weave line — the original premium Champion product — maintains a connection to domestic manufacturing, with some styles still made in the USA. For buyers who want Champion's genuine American heritage rather than a licensed version of the brand, the Reverse Weave line in domestically produced versions offers the authenticity that the standard line can no longer provide.
Quick Picks
Champion Reverse Weave Crew Neck Sweatshirt
Champion
Clothing & Apparel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Champion made in the USA?
Yes. Champion manufactures 5 verified products in Winston-Salem, NC. Champion pioneered athletic performance apparel in the United States, inventing the sweatshirt and the sports bra from their Winston-Salem, North Carolina base, with a heritage dating to 1919 that shaped how Americans dress for sport and leisure.
Where is Champion manufactured?
Champion is headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC. Manufacturing takes place in Winston-Salem, NC.
What Champion products can I buy?
We carry 5 verified Champion products across Clothing & Apparel. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was Champion founded?
Champion was founded in 1919. Champion pioneered athletic performance apparel in the United States, inventing the sweatshirt and the sports bra from their Winston-Salem, North Carolina base, with a heritage dating to 1919 that shaped how Americans dress for sport and leisure.
Does Champion ship from Amazon?
Yes, all Champion products listed here are available on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members.
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