Brand History - Salem Sportswear

Anyone who followed the NBA or any other US sports league in the 80s and 90s couldn't miss the iconic caricatures by Salem Sportswear. With their carefree and humorous approach, they revolutionized sports merchandising. By depicting the era's most famous athletes in an exaggerated way, they made the stars more relatable to fans.

Founded in 1980 by Keith Kennelly and Kyle Nagel, the company essentially started with a simple weekend screen-printing course. Under the name Salem Screen Printers, the company initially focused on band and music shirts before venturing into the sports scene.

Then, electrician Bill Fickett approached them, looking to expand his own t-shirt business. He was already printing caricatures on t-shirts, one of the first being the Larry Bird caricature "Massachusetts State Bird."

After they teamed up, licensing agreements with all major US sports leagues soon followed, and Salem Sportswear was born. Due to their high marketability, NBA merchandise was naturally the most successful – especially the championship t-shirts were a must-have for all fans.

Time was of the essence, as the company tried to produce championship t-shirts as quickly as possible. So, screen-printing facilities were set up in various locations, and printing of championship t-shirts began as soon as the winner was determined.

In 1993, Salem Sportswear was acquired by Fruit of the Loom and integrated into their "Pro Player Apparel" sports division. Even though Salem Sportswear no longer exists today, they drastically changed the merchandising business back then.

If you're interested in vintage t-shirts from Salem Sportswear or similar brands, you'll find a wide selection of coveted pieces in our rare stuff section!