Starter (apparel company) is a manufacturer of fleeces, footwear, compressions, and other accessories. It was founded in 1971 in New Haven, Connecticut by David Beckerman. In 1980, it began partnerships with major leagues in basketball, football, baseball, and hockey as well as in 150 colleges and universities. It was the first apparel brand to co-brand with professional, collegiate and Olympic sports. Starter offered baseball-style Starter jackets as well as caps for teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball, and major U.S. universities.
In the early 1990s, Starter began to expand its distribution networks to reach over 25 countries in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The baseball jackets gave way to a hooded design with a side zipper, and eventually to a padded half-zip pullover. Starter apparel also expanded beyond sports clubs into styles such as plaid. A famous ad campaign featured Hip-Hop stars such as DJ Jazzy Jeff.
