Fragrance house

Starter

Starter was founded in 1971 in New Haven, Connecticut, by former college athlete David Beckerman. It began with sporting-goods apparel and built its business around licensed professional-team apparel, obtaining Major League Baseball licensing in 1976, followed by NBA and NHL licenses and, by 1983, an NFL agreement covering the major professional sports leagues. Its identity was tied to team affiliation and fan participation, with its apparel expressing allegiance, support, friendship, and group belonging. The brand’s cultural reach extended beyond sports apparel: Starter jackets appeared in the 1988 film Coming to America. Starter Black Label launched in the early 2010s as a platform connecting Starter jackets with designer and brand collaborations. Nike acquired Starter in 2004 and sold it to Iconix Brand Group, which completed the acquisition in December 2007. Iconix International currently lists Starter among the brands it owns, licenses, and markets.