The Nicklaus Companies has selected 5 Crown International to design, produce and market Jack Nicklaus Apparel for the United States, beginning with the Fall 2013 product line. 5 Crown International will expand both the men’s and women’s lines with additional product offerings, including performance fabrics, mercerized cotton, wovens, knits, bottoms, outerwear, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and general athletic wear.
While 5 Crown will begin immediately selling the current Spring line designed by Nicklaus Brands, the company will debut its first line in January at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. As the company expands its brands into more lifestyle products, Jack Nicklaus Apparel will provide clothing that targets green grass and men’s specialty stores.
Jack Nicklaus-branded clothing features the iconic Golden Bear emblem. Nicklaus adopted the Golden Bear nickname early in his professional career—a career launched 50 years ago this year—and was inspired in part by Australian sportswriter Don Lawrence of the Melbourne Age. Lawrence was asked by IMG Founder Mark McCormack what he thought of the young star and the writer responded by saying Nicklaus looked like a “big, cuddly, golden bear.” Nicklaus had attended Upper Arlington High School in Ohio, and the school’s mascot was the Golden Bears. The combination inspired Nicklaus to adopt the moniker and thus was born one of the most recognized nicknames and logos in sports history.
