Mike Price and Rose Bowl Embroidery
In 1998 the Cougars earned the right to play in the Rose Bowl. Mike Price was the head coach, and Ryan Leaf was the all-American quarterback. Northwest Custom was known as Northwest Embroidery. Michigan beat the Cougars by one touchdown, but the Cougar Nation still proudly wears the 1998 Rose Bowl merchandise around Seattle. Northwest Custom Apparel originally stitched the Rose Bowl Uniforms for the University of Washington Huskies in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
Seattle’s WSU Traveling Cougars Alumni
The Seattle Traveling Cougars are a group of Cougar fans and alumni who never say die. Linda Finch was the director and arranged all the travel, hotels, and meals. She was also in charge of getting an embroidered jacket for each person attending the WSU game.
Moreover, the funny thing about this is that Linda is a great organizer but forgot all about something for the traveling Cougar club. She came into our factory desperate. Despite being Christmas week, we were slammed. On the other hand, she was in an embarrassing situation and needed help. Unlike other embroidery shops, Northwest Custom Apparel’s owner Jim Mickelson was the WSU Cougar Dad of the year in 1996. How could we say no?
Embroidered 250 WSU Cougar Jackets in Only 5 Days!
Despite only having five days to get the project done and delivered. Fortunately, we called our closest supplier, and they had the 250 jackets we needed. This is why we use San Mar for jackets and caps. They always have it since they are only 15 minutes from downtown Seattle.
We got the jackets on next-day delivery and made one sample. Linda came to our Seattle factory to approve the custom WSU Cougar embroidered design. She was excited because of the great job Northwest Custom Apparel did.
Above all, we got Linda’s approval and completed the embroidered jackets in one day. This was a remarkable undertaking, but we did it and created one “WSU Raving Fan.” Every year if the WSU Cougars travel to a bowl game and she is in charge, we are guaranteed the embroidery order.
This Year Cougars are Winning.
Equally important, this year looks like a winner for the Cougars, and we reserve production for the Bowl Game. One thing different this year is that we have to get a license. Things have changed so drastically that we will never manufacture non-licensed products. One tip to remember is that counterfeit goods are a federal crime. The marshals can seize everything, including the means of production, such as embroidery and DTG printers.
The 1996 WSU Cougar Dad of the Year awarded to Jim Mickelson
Jim Mickelson owns Northwest Custom Apparel, the 1996 WSU Cougar Dad of the Year. Jim, at the time, had four kids attending WSU. His son, Erik Mickelson, Operations Manager, wrote a 3-page essay on why his dad should be the WSU dad of the year. Erik’s essay was chosen in the fall of 1996. Jim was awarded the WSU Dad of the Year at the Dad’s day breakfast. The president of WSU awarded the plaque to Jim. Jim gave a short speech with a round of applause from the audience. That evening Jim and the Mickelson family sat in the press box in Martin Stadium. At halftime, Jim was recognized at the 50-yard line in front of 45,000 screaming WSU Fans.
