NEWS
Team-mates – Tees mayor
Ben Houchen visits the Imprint Applications team at their premises on Riverside Park in Middlesbrough .
GAME ON !
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
Tees firm launches bespoke sportswear brand
Middlesbrough-based Imprint Applications is back in the game after launching its own sportswear brand , Tigra – described as “ teaminspired , game-ready apparel ”.
The range of top-quality bespoke kit is designed , produced and manufactured at the company ’ s 7,000-sq ft premises on Riverside Park and is suitable for sports as diverse as hockey , football , cricket and basketball .
The ambitious project is the culmination of 14 months of collaboration by the 16-strong Imprint team , headed by creative director Ashley Robinson and sales and marketing executive Mark Holt , who has a background in sports apparel .
“ In the past , a lot of sports companies have bought in from China and Eastern Europe , but the problem is lead times ,” says Mark .
“ With six-to-eight weeks for delivery , potential problems with customs and issues with returning incorrect orders , we knew we wanted to retain control of the whole process , so we ’ re proud to say our kits are manufactured right here in this Middlesbrough building .
“ We buy the raw , blank fabric and it ’ s designed , printed , cut , sewn , quality controlled and packaged here . If you wear it for sport , we can provide it !”
Within the first few weeks of its summer launch , Tigra landed orders from Guisborough Rugby Club and the Teesside
Lions basketball team , who opted for a unique design with the bridges of Teesside running through their T-shirts , topped by a watercolour lion .
While that might sound expensive , Tigra is unique in that even a complex design will be the same price as a simple one .
Mark explains : “ All you need to do is book an appointment with one of our in-house designers who will sketch your ideas and bring them to life . It ’ s simple , all one price and tailored to your exact needs .”
That Tigra managed to launch at all this year , given the havoc that Covid wreaked , was down to the quick thinking of the Imprint team .
“ We ’ d moved to our new premises the first week in March and the plan was to get everything set up and launch Tigra in April ,” recalls Mark . “ Then Covid hit , which stopped us in our tracks .
“ We ’ d taken delivery of some very expensive equipment to manufacture the kits and the problem was that if they didn ’ t run they would seize up and cost thousands to get going again .”
Imprint came up with the idea of using the machines to produce bespoke face coverings . These proved hugely lucrative and were snapped up by the likes of Wimbledon and Burnley football clubs and rugby stars Saracens and , closer to home ,
Middlesbrough Council and Tees Business . “ The masks became our calling card ,” says Mark . “ But we didn ’ t want to be seen as profiteering from the pandemic , so the first thing we did was contact Teesside Philanthropic Foundation to arrange a percentage of the profits to go back into the community .
“ We ’ re proud Boro people here at Imprint and we felt it was only right to give back from our success .”
A cheque for £ 5,000 is due to be handed over to the Middlesbrough charity soon , and Imprint has pledged to carry on its commitment to the area with further donations in the future .
Ultimately , of course , the profits from the face coverings have allowed Imprint to invest more in Tigra – and their plans are big !
“ Our dream is to provide the kit for Middlesbrough FC ,” reveals Mark
“ The current suppliers have a year-anda-half left on their contract , but we are confident that by then Tigra will be big enough and strong enough to quote for that contract .
“ It would really be something to shout about if MFC ’ s kit was manufactured in Middlesbrough by Middlesbrough people . There wouldn ’ t be anything better than that .”
For further details , visit tigrasportswear . com or imprintapplications . com .
104 | Tees Business