Champion® Athleticwear, Inventor of the Hoodie, Unveils New Innovative Weighted Hoodie Prototype to Champion Mental Health
May 22 2024 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Developed in collaboration with Thera®, and
tested with leading mental health experts, the Champion® Weighted
Hoodie is launching in stores and online this September
Today, Champion®, makers of authentic athletic apparel since
1919, revealed its newest product innovation prototype designed to
champion mental health: the Champion Weighted Hoodie. Champion has
a strong track record of innovation, from inventing the world’s
first hoodie over 80 years ago, to manufacturing the first sports
bra, and now championing wearable weighted products and adaptive
apparel.
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Today, Champion®, makers of authentic
athletic apparel since 1919, revealed its newest product innovation
prototype designed to champion mental health: the Champion Weighted
Hoodie. Champion has a strong track record of innovation, from
inventing the world’s first hoodie over 80 years ago, to
manufacturing the first sports bra, and now championing wearable
weighted products and adaptive apparel. (Photo: Business Wire)
Inspiration for the product came directly from Champion
consumers, as a 2022 brand survey of 19 to 35-year-olds revealed
that over ninety percent of those surveyed were interested in using
a calming technique, and ultimately, were keen on seeing a weighted
wearable product from Champion. Champion recognized a widespread
need for products that aid in offering day-to-day, wearable relief,
without compromising style.
“As a lifestyle brand born from sport, our purpose is to
Champion a better tomorrow and support meaningful causes through
innovation,” said Vanessa LeFebvre, Global President at Champion.
“For me, the creation of the Weighted Hoodie prototype represents
another step in our pursuit of crafting products with purpose that
catalyze real impact. We are committed to listening to what our
consumers and communities want and creating solutions through our
products. The Weighted Hoodie is a perfect example of that, as
mental health concerns and daily life stress is a consistent
throughline in our community listening. The inspiration for this
came not only from our consumers, but from witnessing people in our
own lives using weighted products for comfort. We want people to
speak about mental health and destigmatize the needs that these
products can meet. Champion is committed to giving individuals the
support they need with adaptive fashion.”
Weighing 8lbs, this machine-washable hoodie is quilted with
micro glass beads and was designed to leverage the scientifically
proven benefits of weighted pressure seen in weighted blankets,
which may reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety among a host of
other mental health and neurodivergent conditions. The hoodie was
developed in collaboration with Thera - a small business founded by
Jenny Rosenberg, who began manufacturing weighted wearable products
during the pandemic. The prototype is also undergoing testing with
leading mental health expert partners, including Dr. Kerri
McBee-Black, Head Adaptive Apparel Researcher and Professor at
University of Missouri.
“While the benefits of weighted products for neurodivergent
populations and those affected by certain mental health conditions
have been widely studied, we’re finding that this category of
adaptive clothing can actually serve a far larger population,” says
Dr. Kerri McBee-Black, Assistant Professor and Helen Allen Faculty
Fellow in the Textile and Apparel Management Department at the
University of Missouri. “Feelings of ‘comfort, safety, and
security’ are among the most common terms showing up in our
research for the Champion Weighted Hoodie prototype, feelings that
anyone can benefit from. My team and I are eager to continue
evolving the functionality of weighted wearables, and also explore
new avenues of accessible and adaptive apparel that can have a
massive impact on the community at large.”
In 2023, Champion unveiled its first global brand campaign,
Champion What Moves You, which redefined the brand’s mission: to
provide every Champion a canvas to pursue their passions and live
their true purpose. For the brand, “Champion” is no longer a title
or indication of winning -- it’s a verb and a means to take action
-- rooted in creating with intention and moving the needle for
important causes across communities. Mental health is no
exception.
Developed in partnership with Thera, the Champion Weighted
Hoodie features:
- Weighted Pressure: Weighing in at a total of 8lb | 3.6
kg allover balanced distribution across arms, chest, back, and
hood.
- Glass Beads: This garment contains premium quality,
non-toxic, odor free, machine washable, micro glass beads.
- Machine Washable: Easy to clean and maintain.
- Reversible: To provide multiple sensory experiences as
well as extend wear options for the user. One side is textural and
quilted, while the other is soft and smooth.
- Stowaway Label Pocket: Designed as a solution for those
with sensory label issues, as well as aiding in garment
reversibility while not losing important legal and wash
information.
- Extra Long Cotton Drawcord: which can act as a focus
agent for those with fidget, twirling, or other neurodivergent
tendencies.
- Champion Quality: Featuring Champion’s signature Reverse
Weave Fabric, washed down for the perfect cozy vintage comfort the
brand's hoodies are cherished for. Also featuring the proprietary C
Onion Quilt with built in layers perfectly containing and balancing
weight evenly across the body and over time.
The Champion Weighted Hoodie will be available in stores and at
Champion.com beginning in September 2024.
ABOUT CHAMPION® ATHLETICWEAR:
Since 1919, Champion has offered a full line of innovative
athletic apparel for men and women, including activewear, sweats,
tees, sports bras, team uniforms, footwear and accessories. Today,
as a lifestyle brand born from sport, Champion uses innovative
design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised
quality and innovative apparel for consumers. Beyond its products,
the brand’s mission is to provide every Champion a canvas to live
their true purpose; rooted in the belief that champions are defined
not by what they make, but by what they do with it. Champion wants
to inspire others to not just win, but to Champion a better
tomorrow, and is dedicated to supporting creators by giving them a
platform to tell their stories, support their values, and
communities.
Champion apparel can be purchased at department stores, sporting
goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com. For more
information, visit us at Facebook.com/Champion, follow us on
Twitter @Championusa or on Instagram @Champion. Champion is a brand
of HanesBrands (NYSE:HBI).
ABOUT HANESBRANDS:
HanesBrands (NYSE: HBI) makes everyday apparel that is known and
loved by consumers around the world for comfort, quality and value.
Among the company’s iconic brands are Hanes, the leading basic
apparel brand in the United States; Champion, an innovator at the
intersection of lifestyle and athletic apparel; Bonds, which is
setting new standards for design and sustainability; Maidenform,
America’s number one shapewear brand; and Bali, America’s number
one national bra brand. HBI employs 48,000 associates in
approximately 30 countries and has built a strong reputation for
workplace quality and ethical business practices. The company, a
longtime leader in sustainability, has set aggressive 2030 goals to
improve the lives of people, protect the planet and produce
sustainable products. HBI is building on its unmatched strengths to
unlock its Full Potential and deliver long-term growth that
benefits all of its stakeholders.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522145207/en/
Nicole Ducouer Director, Communications/Community Engagement
nicole.ducouer@hanes.com (336) 986-7090
Hanesbrands (NYSE:HBI)
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