Sportiqe, the global lifestyle apparel brand known for its elevated basics and pro-athlete following, has opened its doors to an innovative, 30,000 square-foot warehouse in Phoenix that will employ 30 new staff members and double the company’s Arizona footprint.
The state-of-the-art facility enables Sportiqe to bring the brand’s decorating, labeling, finishing, distribution and fulfillment in-house instead of outsourcing to other areas of the world. A first-of-its-kind in Arizona, Sportiqe has created an eco-friendly environment within the warehouse, a rarity in the screen printing industry, with features such as a self-contained automated screen cleaning and reclaiming system to eliminate airborne chemical contact; a filtration system that emits no air pollution; self-contained machines; the exclusive use of environmentally friendly solvents for cleaning screens and the use of robotics for improved efficiency and workflow. In addition, this new facility offers air conditioning, which is crucial for an optimal work environment in the Arizona heat, yet a rarity for other screen-printing facilities in the Valley.
“There is no other facility like this in the state in terms of size, scope and technology and we’re hoping to elevate the apparel industry manufacturing standards on a national level with what we’ve developed here in Phoenix,” said Matt Altman, CEO and co-founder of Sportiqe. “Since the company’s inception in 2006, it’s been our goal to bring all elements of our design and decoration under one roof in our home-state of Arizona. It’s now a reality and a significant piece of our business that’s going vertical in 2020.”
With the creation of this new facility, Sportiqe is doubling the size of their staff, which encompasses on-site designers, screen printers, decorators, quality control and fulfillment staff. The company will be hosting an open house career night on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Sportiqe Warehouse at 2250 E. Riverview Drive suite 140 in Phoenix for prospective employees who are interested in learning more about available positions.
Headquartered in Tempe, Sportiqe specializes in Modern American comfort wear using premium fabrics, innovative designs and an on-trend fit to provide superior comfort with its t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, headwear and more. The company has been on an aggressive growth path since 2017 when it extended beyond its bread-and-butter wholesale division and launched a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand, exclusively sold at Sportiqe.com.
Within its wholesale division, Sportiqe collaborates with global leaders like NBA, Dave Matthews Band, Nintendo, Airstream, WWE, Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Warner Bros., Live Nation, Samuel Adams, Peloton, Microsoft Xbox, Tillamook Creamery, Sierra Nevada, JSX, Trek Bicycle, to name a few.
“Our investment in the new facility is a game-changer on every level and a step toward our production process being completely vertical,” said Jason Franklin, co-founder and principal of Sportiqe. “The new space will allow us to continue honoring our commitment to our customers to deliver the most innovative design concepts and elevate Sportiqe to be seen as a real player in the U.S. apparel industry.”
A longtime celebrity and pro-athlete favorite, the brand has outfitted more than four million people around the globe since it began in 2006 and was among the first apparel companies to bridge the gap between the fan and fashion world.
For more information about Sportiqe, visit Sportiqe.com and SportiqeWholesale.com.
