Heritage

  • BORN IN ALABAMA , 1902.

    From humble beginnings in a tiny factory in Alabama and with just 10 sewing machines and 8 knitting machines at his disposal, 26 year old Benjamin Russell began building a sportswear legend. The original mill produced ladies undershirts and children's undergarments with a capacity of 150 garments daily.

  • OUR FOUNDER

    Benjamin Russell was a man of humility. As tough as the early days were, he somehow found time to give his town Alexander City, a kindergarten, school, hospital, hotel, laundry, grocery store and bakery, as well as set up a telephone operation. In 1941, Benjamin passed away on the 16th December and the reins of the company were passed to his son Benjamin C. Russell. After his death, Alexander City High School was renamed Benjamin Russell High School in honour of the founder of the Russell brand.

  • SOUTHERN MANUFACTURING CO.

    In 1930, Benjamin Russell pioneered 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. In a time of expansion, Russell began making woven athletic garments, including basketball, baseball and football pants and jackets.

  • VARSITY ORIGINS

    Renowned for as much as its comfort and durability as its casual look, Russell Athletic was quickly adopted by Ivy League universities and became synonymous with American collegiate lifestyle.

  • THE PIONEER, INVENTOR AND CREATOR OF THE SWEATSHIRT

    In 1920, Benjamin Russell Junior had an idea. A high-school footballer at the University of Alabama, he suggested a more comfortable all-cotton jersey version of the original woolen football jersey might avoid the problems of the chaffing and discomfort caused by sweating in wool. His father listened. Athletes everywhere loved the comfortable new fabric, and the first sweatshirt as we know it was born.

  • A COLLEGIATE STORY STILL BEING TOLD

    Now over 100 years old, Russell Athletic continues to produce a range of sportswear for athletes male and female, professional and amateur combining the old with the new to create modern day classics for everyday athletes. Russell Athletic's collegiate lifestyle heritage endures to this day, whilst the Sweatshirt continues to be an iconic garment. Russell Athletic. For This Athletic Life.

  • RAISED ON THE TRACKS AND FIELDS OF AMERICA

    By the 1960s Russell Manufacturing Company's 'Athletic' division had become the largest manufacturer of sports apparel and uniforms in the United States. Thirty years later, Russell sportswear was the preferred choice of athletes from Major League Baseball and the NFL, to the little leagues.

  • THE HEADPHONE HOODIE

    Continuing a dedication to innovation, Russell Athletic launched Australia's first ever hooded sweatshirt featuring a built-in MP3 compatible headphone system by HB3 Technology in March 2011. The Headphone Hoodie combined functionality with versatility, style and comfort.