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Amazing Interview on the History of Northwest Custom Apparel Since 1977

Employee first day

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Interview with founder and CEO, Jim Mickelson

This is Erik with Northwest Custom Apparel, and I’m today with owner and CEO Jim Mickelson of Northwest Custom Apparel, we’re going to have a few questions and answers with Jim. Jim, how did you start this? Where’d you get the crazy idea to come up with embroidery?

Jim Mickelson Started in Prudhoe Bay Alaska

Jim Mickelson Prudhoe Bay

How it all Started with Northwest Custom Apparel

It started in 1977, and I’d worked on the Trans Alaska Pipeline for about 3 years. We got a little commemorative gift for all our employees in our management team. I took it upon myself to order 300 cap patches and sew them onto the ball caps.

Prudhoe Bay Keeping America Independent Patch
A Fabric Patch, the first designer patch by Northwest Custom Apparel and Jim Mickelson

The first ever custom patch said, Keeping America Independent Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Well, I brought the custom patch hats up to Alaska, and somebody said, “Well, don’t give those guys anything since you paid for them. Why don’t you sell them?” I put a sign on my desk, and I sold 300 custom patch hats within two days, commemorative caps with a pipeline.

I said I’ll do this again. I kept continuing doing it. Because I was on a rotation where I worked the week in Alaska, I flew home to Seattle and returned to Prudhoe Bay. When I returned to Alaska, I had plenty of time and space to put it on the Atlantic Richfield corporate jet and fly the custom patch trucker caps to Alaska.

Starting A Custom Patch Factory

Then the next move was that the … I said, “If this is so successful when we finish building the Trans Alaska Pipeline, I might not have a job that I want to find something to do. Despite still having a great job, I contacted the Barudan embroidery machine company in 1977. Barudand manufactures 12 head embroidery machines.

After a meeting with the owners in Charlotte, North Carolina, I decided to purchase one embroidery machine since the price was right. I took the chance and shipped it to Tacoma t up to the northwest, and I taught myself how to make embroidered patches and sew them on the trucker style fitted caps. I purchased the caps from Paramount Headwear in Missouri.

Nike was the first major client

Mention Promo Code Nike1977 and receive a free nike polo shirt on your next order
Nike was their first client. Now a Billion Dollar Company

Well, because I had the only one, and we were the first company with an embroidery machine, I didn’t even really have to advertise because people sought me out. We were doing really well doing the patches.

Then we received an order from a company from Blue Ribbon Sports. They asked us to embroider some polo shirts and I said, “Sure. We can embroider polo shirts.” Well, Blue Ribbon eventually … changed their branding name and they became Nike. You can imagine the kind of work that I was getting on my embroidery machine. From there, we had to buy another machine, and then another machine, and another machine.

Apparel Manufacturing gets shipped overseas

Well, what happened in the apparel industry in a country called China? They found out that Eddie Bauer, Columbia, REI, and all the big companies that were manufacturing apparel up here in the northwest found it a whole lot easier to move their operations or their manufacturing to China and the Far East. Well, what happened then is that we lost all our business because, and all these sewing factories were shutting down so we had to come up with another business model.

Bob Roberts (Middle) sports announcer for the Washington State Cougars Football Team stopped by for some Rose Bowl gear in 2003
Bob Roberts (Middle) sports announcer for the Washington State Cougars Football Team stopped by for some Rose Bowl gear in 2003

What NW Custom is Doing Now

What we’re doing now is that we… We decorate polo shirts, jackets, hats, and anything that an employee would wear to have the company’s brand recognized. We’ve been doing this for better than 15, 20 years. It’s been a comfortable position that we’re in.

We’re no longer the only embroidery company. By the last check, there are probably close to 800 embroidery companies in the state of Washington. Maybe we were the birth mother of the embroidery industry in the Northwest. We’re still doing well. We still are here. We’ve got a nice facility in Milton, Washington.  I invite you to stop into our remodeled showroom and say “Hello”, and visit with me and our friendly staff.

Jim Mickelson can be reached at 253-922-5793 or by email at [email protected]

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Antonio-Massey

Antonio Massey

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Antonio Massey recently joined NWCA in June of 2022. His role on the Production Team has greatly improved our processes and productivity. Antonio is always willing to lift heavy boxes or help his co-workers during busy times. In his free time, he enjoys playing with his dog and mastering video games.

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Erik Mickelson

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Erik Mickelson’s position as Manager is more than a job, it’s a passion. It’s always fun and exciting because he enjoys marketing, computers, and coming up with innovative ideas to help NWCA grow. He majored in accounting and finance at Washington State University, graduating in 1996, and returned to school to obtain his Master of Business from WGU, graduating in 2016. Erik continually strives to advance his education through podcasts, audiobooks, and industry tradeshows. He is married to a remarkable and caring wife named Wendy, a Registered Nurse, with whom he shares his many hobbies and a love for the outdoors.

 

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Steve Deland

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Nika Lao

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Bradley Wright

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Bradley Wright has been a vital team member of NWCA since 2017. As our accountant and knower-of-all-things, Bradley is proud to work closely with his wonderful colleagues. He studied at the University of Washington. These days he dedicates his free time to his new house.

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Dominic Nguyen

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Dominic Nguyen recently joined our Direct-To-Garment department. He says he loves the family work environment at Northwest Custom Apparel. In his free time, Dom likes to listen to music, hangout with friends, and play video games. He comes from a very big family which can be very chaotic at times, but is always exciting.

Sothea-Tann

Sothea Tann

Production Team: Trimmer

Sothea Tann recently joined the Production Team in 2022. She finds Northwest Custom Apparel to be a good working environment with helpful and friendly staff. In her free time, Sothea spends quality time with her family and, overall, focuses on a peaceful and happy lifestyle.

Brian-Beardsly

Brian Beardsley

DTG Supervisor

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UT-Tri-Tran

UT Tri Tran

Embroidery Machine Operator

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BunsereytheavyHoeu

Embroidery Machine Operator

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Sreynai-Meang

Sreynai Meang

Embroidery Machine Operator

SreynaiMeang is a hard-working Machine Operator. She is most passionate about helping people. Sreynai, who goes by Nai, likes to exercise in her free time and talk with her family in Cambodia.

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Kanha Chhorn

Embroidery Machine Operator

Kanha Chhorn has been an Embroidery Operator with Northwest Custom Apparel since 2018. She is delightful and always makes everyone smile and laugh. Kanha takes on additional tasks that allow us to exceed our customers’ expectations. In her free time, she can be found at her local temple or spending quality time with her family and friends.

Savy-Sorm

Savy Som

Embroidery Machine Operator

SavySom is one of our Machine Operators who is passionate about embroidery and sewing. She enjoys working at NWCA because of its flexibility. She has two teenage sons and loves spending time with her family on the weekends.

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SorphornSorm

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Jim-Mickelson

Jim Mickelson

CEO

Jim Mickelson, after a successful career with a major oil company, founded Northwest Embroidery in 1977. This was the first commercial embroidery in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, Jim has become the guru of embroidery never refusing to answer a question or offer advice to his fellow embroiders. Jim and his wife Leeanna raised four wonderful children who went on to successful business careers.