Title Nine is an American manufacturer of athletic clothing and women’s workout clothes, known for its sports bras and fitting services.[1] It is the largest independently-owned and operated retailer of women's fitness clothing.[2] In 2020 they had twenty retail stores primarily on the West Coast and the Midwest.[3] The name is an example of a trend in organizations' naming themselves after sections of treaties and law, something that Zachary Elkins has called "chapter-verse branding."[4]
 | |
| Founded | 1989 in Berkeley, California |
|---|---|
| Founder | Missy Park |
| Headquarters | 6201 Doyle Street Emeryville, CA 94608 |
| Products | |
| Website | www |
The company was founded in 1989 by Lillian "Missy" Park who was an early beneficiary of Title IX, playing basketball at Yale University.[1] Park, born in 1962, was the first generation of young women to go through high school and college after Title IX had passed. [5] She had to play most of her college career in men's shorts and basketball shoes which were uncomfortable and didn't fit right.[5] She decided to start a place where women could find workout gear that was comfortable.[6]
Title Nine began as a mail order company in the Bay Area.[6] It is run by female executives and largely staffed by female athletes.[6] The models in their catalogs are primarily actual female athletes.[6][7] While the site is known for their sports bras, they also sell athletic equipment such as hockey gear, batting helmets and bicycles that are made for women and girls.[8] The company was profitable for the first time in 1993 and launched their first website in 1995.[2]
Title Nine helped produce Dandelion, an outdoors women's magazine and sponsors local activity groups and running races.[6][9] The brand supports female business owners annually with a pitch competition where woman-owned brands compete to have their products sold online on Title Nine's store.[10]
In July 2021, Park announced that the company would donate US $1 million[11] to support the players of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team in their equal pay dispute with US Soccer.
References
edit- ^ a b Murphy, Jen (2012-06-27). "At Work, Fitness Counts as Much as Sales". WSJ. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ a b "In the Beginning - About". Title Nine. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ "Store Locator". Title Nine. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ Elkins, Zachary (2021-04-02). "The Mutualism of Human Rights Law and Interest Groups". University of Chicago Law Review Online. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ^ a b Laura Schiller (June 5, 2015). "Missy Park-The Power of Sports for Girls". Inflection Point (Podcast). Event occurs at 2:03. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ a b c d e Guynn, Jessica (October 4, 2004). "Women's Sports Apparel Gaining Ground, Comfort". The Tennessean. p. E4. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Meet Our "Models" - Our Values at Work". Title Nine. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ Duke, Abbey. "Catalogs Gear up for Female Athletes". Burlington Free Press. No. April 30, 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "T9 Mermaid Race Series - Our Values at Work". Title Nine. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
- ^ Russell, Casey (9 September 2020). "Vela Apparel's Elise Holmes named finalist in the Title Nine Movers and Makers Pitchfest". Vail Daily. Swift Communications, Inc. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Title Nine makes $1M contribution to support USWNT and its fight for equal pay". GMA. ABC News Internet Ventures. Retrieved 6 May 2022.