Highlighting CHAMPRO’S Charitable Work…and hey, Welcome Back!

Today’s focus is aimed at highlighting some of the great work being done by one of our partners, CHAMPRO Sports.  Their continued commitment to corporate responsibility is one of the many reasons we’re proud to be in business with CHAMPRO.  

Here at TSP HQ, most of our experience with Ethiopian culture involves fantastic Ethiopian restaurants in West Philly (Bluegrass Thursdays at Fiume, anyone?).  Seriously though, as an international team sports dealer, we take pride in serving customers all over the world, including providing uniforms and apparel to ICS ADDIS (an International school based in Ethiopia very near to the CHAMPRO facility).

CHAMPRO's charitable work in this area deserves praise. In 1999, a partnership, sponsored by the Ethio-American Trade and Investment Council (EATIC), was formed between CHAMPRO and an Ethiopian investor to open a garment factory there. And the rest as they say, is history.

Upon visiting the site of their joint venture in 2002, then Secretary of State Paul O’Neill and U2 lead singer and activist Bono told the press contingent that, “the CHAMPRO factory could provide a model for investment, trade and development in Africa.”

Also from their website: “In 2001, the CHAMPRO® School was founded in Qarsa, Ethiopia to provide educational opportunities for children in a community that never had a school. The CHAMPRO® School was started with one grade in 2001.”  

Today, the school educates over 600 children in grades 1-8 and is lit using the first electricity in the community. It was born from Solar Panels installed in 2007.  Imagine that…running a school for almost 7 years without electricity. Reminds you how resilient human beings really are.  We are big believers in giving back to the communities we serve here at Team Sports Planet. CHAMPRO Sports is doing great work in this area.  You can read more about it HERE:

The Sports Uniform Stuff blog is the home of Philadelphia-based and world-wide reaching online team sports dealer Team Sports Planet. 

The blog has been undergoing a Sam Hinkie-esque rebuild over the past few years. We’re proud to announce our triumphant return to the blogosphere.

Keep your eye on this space for a unique perspective on the industry, sports-related happenings of the day, and an inside view of how we continue to strive to provide our customers with the best service in team sports equipment, uniforms and apparel.

Thanks for reading. We hope you keep coming back to the Sports Uniform Stuff blog for more great information about how we help teams here at Team Sports Planet.

From Throwbacks to Throw Back On

 By now you guys know or heard at times that thirty is the new twenty, forty is the new thirty so on and so on. Who's to say that cant apply to sports uniforms? I mean we all know/seen some hideous uniforms in our times but something about retro jerseys just jump out at you. I think its a good time to go back to the basics. With all the new technology and fabrics we came across within the years, I believe its starting to be one big smoke screen that we all are starting to get lost in. Don't get me wrong new is always nice but with new comes a lot of busyness and overload unlike throwbacks. Which I like to think throwbacks style jerseys are like an artist who lives by the saying "Less is More."

Check out the kids from Homestead Ranchers
channeling the Astros throwback jerseys

Bird..Bird..Bird.. Elite Louisville is the Word

The tip-off to a new season is only a few weeks away(pun very much intended). So what should be on your mind besides making it to the chip and winning it all? Looking great as you do it. Plus I know just the right look to fix that, The Elite Louisville package. And the good news about this package is teams will be too focus on your jerseys how/where to get them, that the competition will be little to none and hopefully with that your team can ride the luck Louisville had and win it all.


TSP: Elite Louisville Package

What Not to Wear: Fashion or Football?

Well folks, It was only a matter of time until the fashion police (oops... I meant the suits of the NFL) stepped in and start putting a stop to players customized facemasks. And who is the frontrunner of these talks? No other than the pioneer of the custom facemask Justin Tuck. Which in a interview said his "wasn't a fashion statement" and is for medical reasons only, he suffered a eye injury in the past (..Rrright). Then why not wear a 3 bar facemask with a visor so a lineman's hand wouldn't be able to fit through if that was the case. I really don't see what the big deal the NFL is making about them but don't try and play it off as something medical because when it comes down to it, I think  players are just tried of getting grabbed and pulled by their facemask and are just trying to find ways to cut that down or eliminate completely. I love the ideal of wiping out the facemask penalty on top of the way they look. Its just another way for the football suits trying to suck the life out of the game as well as how players express themselves.


Check out this article from The New York Times
The New York Times

The Hunt for a Pink October

Well everybody......... The hunt is over, and just in time to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month or better said in the sports terminology world as "Saving Second Base". What else would look better than fighting for a W in pink camo while standing up to the fight against Breast Cancer at the same time? Don't worry I can wait........(nothing).......... cause I can't come up with a better look than this Elite Camo Rama package. Plus choose your style by showing off the team as "On the field vets" in three color traditional  or "Leaders of the new school" in four color digital. Either way you look at it, its a win-win. You're standing up for a good cause and looking good as you do it.


 

Elite Camo Rama 

Color ways for the guys who

 want to feel "Pretty in Pink" too

while showing some support

Here's a idea for the fall ball players and teams that will be playing in October; For the whole time during Breast Cancer Awareness Month DON'T steal second base in support for the fight our close friends & love ones are going through.

 And it doesn't have to stop there with only the uniforms,

                                                 up the ante with accessories to match.

Mizuno Organizer Bat Pack

Mizuno Premier G3



Jennie Finch Headband 

Rawlings 2 Tone Coolflow



Welcome to the Jungle!

Recently, the use of animal print in team sports apparel has exploded!

Zebra print softball jersey

Tiger print softball jersey

Leopard, zebra, tiger, elephant, alligator, OH MY! - all now viable decoration options. The ability to customize with sublimation technology (dying the patterns directly into the fabric) has definitely helped bring this type of uniform style to a whole new level! And it's not just the uniforms that are getting the jungle makeover - accessories, such as socks and hats have also been spotted with wild prints.

And it's all across the board - not just one sport that is diggin' animal style in their jerseys. Bikers and wrestlers are already known for having very eccentric and flashy styles, but this trend seems to be transcending into other traditional sports, such as basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, cheer and even football! Check out some of the unusual and creative applications of animal prints below:

Baseball with Leopard print?

Cyclists have all the fun!

Elephant Print on basketball jerseys - very interesting to say the least!

I wonder if players from back in the day EVER imagined that teams would be donning jungle-inspired patterns in their uniforms.

 I'll be curious to see how animal print jerseys evolve over the years or if this is just a passing trend.

Do you like to see wildlife prints in team uniforms?
	YES - love it!
	NO - it's hideous!