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Russell Athletic, the company that created the sweatshirt, began life as The Russell Manufacturing Company on 3rd March, 1902 in Alexander City, Alabama. Its founder was entrepreneurial polymath Benjamin Russell, and they specialized in women\u2019s undershirts.\nIt wasn\u2019t until decades later - when Russell\u2019s son returned from college with a concept for college-based sportswear - that the brand embarked upon designing their iconic garment that still sells by the bucketload today.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly compare Russell to various characters in \u2018It\u2019s A Wonderful Life\u2019; outline rival Champion\u2019s claim to having invented the hoodie; and explain how \u2018athleisure wear\u2019 has its roots in apparel designed for spectators, not participants\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Our Heritage: A Rich History\u2019 (Russell Athletic official website): https://www.russellathletic.com/history\n\u2022 Benjamin Russell - The Alabama Business Hall of Fame (ua.edu): https://abhof.culverhouse.ua.edu/member/benjamin-russell/\n\u2022 \u2018Harold Lloyd in THE FRESHMAN (1925)\u2019 (Janus Films, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ntrhlDr8MU\n#Sport #Fashion #1900s #Inventions #Business #US\xa0\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices