Russell Corporation
Fashion Profiles   Fashion Companies by Name  Fashion Industry

Below is for historical reference, please visit our new Russell Athletic profile page.


Russell Corporation Russell Corporation was founded in 1902 in Alexander City, Alabama by Benjamin Russell, who started with eight knitting machines and 10 sewing machines. Today, Russell is an international apparel company specializing in activewear, casualwear and athletic uniforms with over $1 billion in annual sales. The company has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. Russell's heritage is based on quality athletic product and the company is the largest supplier of athletic team uniforms in the United States. Beyond the athletic category, Russell sells sweatshirts, T-shirts and other casualwear throughout the world under its best-known brands, Russell Athletic, JERZEES and Cross Creek. The company is organized into five divisions, each with its own president so that divisions will have authority and accountability for their line of business. The divisions are: Russell Athletic, JERZEES Retail, Russell Artwear, International and fabrics. Each division focuses on its own products and channel of distribution and sales. For nearly 100 years, the Russell name has meant quality, durability and comfort and that same commitment is still woven into each of the company's brands.

The Company's major brands include Russell Athletic, JERZEES, Mossy Oak and Cross Creek. The Company designs and merchandises a variety of leisure and sports apparel marketed to sporting goods dealers, department and specialty stores, mass merchandisers, golf pro shops, college bookstores, screen printers and embroiderers, distributors, mail order houses and other apparel manufacturers. Products are derived from a combination of internally produced products, contractors and third-party sources.

The Company produces athletic uniforms for most sports activities and for players of all ages and sizes. These products are marketed to professional, collegiate, high school and other teams, as well as to individuals. Activewear and casual apparel, such as t-shirts, fleece sweatshirts and sweatpants, pullovers, jackets and other knitted apparel products, are produced for the general consumer market. Product lines also include placket shirts, turtlenecks and golf apparel. The Company also produces sports and casual socks, including tube, quarter anklet and crew socks
for men, women and children. Woven fabrics are produced and sold to other apparel manufacturers.

The Company has two business segments, Activewear and International. These segments offer similar products and operate in multiple locations. The segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and distribute products into different geographical areas.

Activewear

The Company's Activewear segment consists of three brands that sell to sporting goods dealers, department and specialty stores, mass merchants, wholesale clubs, college bookstores, screen printers, distributors, golf pro shops and mail order catalogs. The Company's activewear apparel products include t-shirts, fleece products, such as sweat shirts and pants, athletic uniforms, knit shirts, and other activewear casual apparel. The Activewear segment consists of the primary operations of the Company's JERZEES, Russell Athletic and Cross Creek brands. Activewear is sold by a combination of a salaried, Company-employed sales force and commission agents.

The Activewear segment utilizes Company-owned manufacturing facilities to produce product, as well as contractors or other vendors for components in the manufacturing process or for the procurement of finished product. Generally, Company-owned and operated manufacturing facilities for Activewear consist of fabrication, dyeing and finishing, cutting and sewing.

Russell yarn consists of the spinning of yarns, the process by which fibers of raw cotton or blends of cotton and synthetic fibers are converted into continuous strands. yarn uniformity and strength are the principal characteristics that materially affect the efficiency of subsequent manufacturing processes and the quality of the finished fabrics or apparel. This unit manufactures a variety of yarn sizes primarily for use in the balance of the Company's manufacturing processes.

International

The International strategic business unit manufactures and distributes activewear products under the JERZEES, Russell Athletic and Cross Creek brands throughout various countries outside the United States and Canada. This segment's major market is Europe, where the Company engages in both manufacturing and marketing of activewear similar to the processes for the Activewear segment.

Russell fabrics designs, manufactures and markets quality woven fabrics of cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blends in a variety of patterns, colors and constructions to other apparel manufacturers, primarily for the manufacture of school and industrial uniforms. DeSoto Mills is a manufacturer of popularly priced socks for men, women and children under the Company's JERZEES and Russell Athletic brands.

Updated 2/18/07: To update or modify this profile, please Contact Us with details.  Please indicate that your comments are in reference to the company profile pages.

Apparel Search Fashion Industry b2b Directory for the clothing industry

Learn about more clothing companies.

Thank you for using the Apparel Search website.