The sweatshirt (or simply 'sweat') was invented by Benjamin Russell in 1926. The Russel Corporation was founded in Alabama in 1902. The business started life by producing undergarments for men and women.
The founder of the company, Benjamin Russell had a son, Bertie, who liked playing football and who in time played for the Alabama University team. Bertie complained to his father about the lack of comfort of the woolen football jerseys worn by players of the time.
Bertie came-up with the idea of using the underwear garment material as football shirts. Being familiar with the garments made at his father's factory Bertie told his father that this would make excellent football shirts. Benjamin decided to give it a go and history was in the making.
Football players loved the new material - it had many benefits for them, not least of which was comfort. Bertie sold the concept to other clubs and the new shirts quickly became very popular.
The firm increased production and moved into new markets selling the product to baseball teams and athletics organisations.
{The Russell company graduallybecame the established shirt company by forming Russell Athletic in 1932.|This success led to Russell to form Russell Athletic, an athletics association in 1932 which established the Russell brand in a wide range of sports markets.
The sweatshirt stepped beyond the world of track teams and baseball clubs establishing itself as an ubiquitous high-street clothing item with attention from major design labels such as G Star Sweat.
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