OUR HISTORY
It all began at the end of the nineteenth century in Piqua, Ohio, an area later to be known as the “the Underwear Capital of the World.” MEDALIST was born as Piqua Underwear Company in 1898. Piqua Underwear was the first of its kind: a factory where everything was carried out under one roof, from knitting the yarn to shipping the finished product. Today, we still carry on the quality, integrity, and heritage instilled in us from our roots in Piqua, while applying the most advanced 21st century technologies available to enhance performance at every level.
With over a century-long history of innovation and uncompromising quality, MEDALIST® continues to create and deliver apparel and related products that combine technology and performance to targeted markets around the world
MEDALIST TIMELINE
OUR ROOTS:
1898 - We produce our first pair of cotton thermal underwear.
1902 -Piqua is purchased by Atlas Underwear Company, the makers of BVD brand.
Early 1900’s -Working exclusively with the U.S. military, we develop an arsenal of American-made warmth protection and comfort solutions for the infantry of World War I.
1940’s - Based on our WWI performance, the U.S. military again chooses us to outfit the infantry of World War II in our high-performance undergear.
1972 -MEDALIST Industries, a NASDAQ publicly traded company best known for their MEDALIST Sand-Knit sports uniforms, acquires Atlas Underwear Company.
1992 -MEDALIST moves from Piqua, OH to Reading, PA.
1995 - Performance Sports Apparel, Inc. purchases the MEDALIST trademarks and transforms the brand, expanding our horizons to establish a platform of aggressive growth.
2002 - MEDALIST introduces Silvermax™, utilizing the latest in silver fiber technology to provide ski and snow enthusiasts with not only thermodynamic warmth, but also anti-odor solutions.
2002 – With a strategic alliance with Mossy Oak® brand camouflage, MEDALIST enters the hunting market, offering cutting-edge base layer solutions to the hunting and fishing markets. The first ever comprehensive performance apparel, features MEDALIST’s signature SCENT-FREE™ Silvermax technology and Mossy Oak® brand camo prints.
2002 - MEDALIST reaches new heights when Silvermax™ anti-microbial shirts are chosen by the European Space Agency to be worn by astronauts on missions to the International Space Station.
2003 - NASA astronauts also take MEDALIST to the final frontier by selecting SilverMax shirts for space missions.
2006 - MEDALIST launches TACTICAL SHIELD WITH SILVERMAX™ and is instantly recognized as the product of choice for law enforcement and military applications.
2006 - MEDALIST adds a full line of outerwear and accessories to the hunting line featuring SilverMax scent elimination technology provides thermodynamic body temperature regulation, keeping you warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather.
2007 - MEDALIST forms a strategic partnership with Realtree® brand camouflage.
2007 - MEDALIST Performance Sports Apparel provides Reading’s professional hockey team, the Reading Royals, with SilverMax performance base layer.
2007 - MEDALIST forms a strategic partnership with Hunter Specialties, the world’s largest manufacturer of hunting accessories.
2008 - MEDALIST SilverMax provides authentic training apparel for World Champion Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters Jens Pulver and Tim Sylvia, as well as over 40 other MMA fighters. MEDALIST SilverMax becomes an official sponsor of Adrenaline MMA.
