I was born in March 1943. After serving in the Navy and graduating from Cal State Los Angeles, I took a job as an administration manager for Atlantic Richfield on the Alaska Pipeline in Prudhoe Bay. I was flying back and forth between Washington and Alaska every other week when I started selling embroidered caps to fellow pipeline workers. I sewed the first patches on myself. When 300 caps sold out in three days, I made more money selling hats than working for the oil company. I quit and never looked back.
I founded Northwest Embroidery in 1977 in Tacoma, Washington — the first commercial embroidery shop in the Pacific Northwest. I was self-taught. I started with one embroidery machine and an accounting background that helped me keep the books straight while I figured out the craft. Today we operate 10 multi-head embroidery machines, 2 Kornit printers, and a team of 15 employees from our facility in Milton, Washington.
In 1985, 1986, and 1987, I was named Embroiderer of the Year — three years running. I embroidered the Nike swoosh back when the company was still called Blue Ribbon Sportswear. I crafted the patches for the University of Washington football team when they went to the Rose Bowl in 1991. KOMO 4 News covered me while I was producing caps for SEAL Team Six. These were not just jobs. They were tests of precision under pressure, and we passed every one.
I have never refused a question from a fellow embroiderer. Not in 48 years. I have consulted with dozens of startup embroidery shops and DTG printers, and I have spoken at trade shows about what I have learned the hard way. If someone calls me at 6 AM because their machine is down and they have a deadline, I answer. That is how this industry works. You help each other, or nobody survives.
My wife Leeanna and I raised four children who all went on to successful business careers. Two of them — Erik and Scott — work here now. Erik runs production operations. I am stepping into my 80s, and I am passing the torch to him. He will take this business further than I could. But I am not leaving entirely. I still come in, I still blog about embroidery, and I still spend Friday afternoons with my buddies at the shop.
Away from work, I ride my exercise bike every day. I watch every Seattle Seahawks game and every Washington State Cougars football game. I am a man of simple pleasures. The work has been enough
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded Northwest Embroidery | 1977, Tacoma, WA — first commercial embroidery shop in the Pacific Northwest |
| Started with | One embroidery machine, self-taught, hand-sewn patches |
| Grew to | 10 multi-head embroidery machines, 2 Kornit printers, 15 employees, two buildings in Milton, WA |
| Embroiderer of the Year | 1985, 1986, 1987 — three consecutive years |
| Notable Projects | Nike swoosh (Blue Ribbon Sportswear era), UW Rose Bowl 1991 patches, SEAL Team Six caps (KOMO 4 News coverage) |
| Industry Contribution | Consultant to startup embroidery shops and DTG printers; speaker at embroidery trade shows |
| Family Business | Second generation: Erik Mickelson (Operations Manager), Scott Mickelson |
| Community | 48 years serving Washington State businesses, schools, military units, and organizations |
I am in my 80s and I still ride my exercise bike every morning. I still watch football on Sundays. And I still come into the shop because I love the work. I love seeing a design go from a computer screen to a finished garment. I love when a customer walks into our showroom and says “I had no idea you could do that.” I love training a new operator on the Tajima and watching them get it right for the first time.
The industry has changed completely since 1977. We used to store digitized designs on paper rolls with holes punched in them. They took up half our warehouse. Today our entire design library fits on a chip smaller than my fingernail. But the principle has not changed: do good work, treat people right, and they will come back.
Northwest Custom Apparel has operated from Milton, Washington since 1977. We are a family-owned decoration shop producing custom embroidery, screen printing, DTG printing, DTF printing, laser engraving, and promotional products — all in-house, no outsourcing. We serve construction companies, schools, corporate uniform programs, military units, and local businesses across the Pacific Northwest. 187 verified Google reviews. 48 years in business.
Jim Mickelson is the Founder and CEO of Northwest Custom Apparel in Milton, Washington. A Navy veteran and Cal State Los Angeles graduate, he founded Northwest Embroidery in 1977 — the first commercial embroidery shop in the Pacific Northwest. He was named Embroiderer of the Year three consecutive years (1985–1987), embroidered the original Nike swoosh for Blue Ribbon Sportswear, and produced patches for the University of Washington’s 1991 Rose Bowl team. Over 48 years, he has mentored hundreds of embroiderers and built the region’s most trusted family-owned apparel decoration business.
