Our Story
Benben Sportswear has been offering a wide range of apparel, specialty products and sports equipment to schools, sports teams/clubs and companies throughout America’s Heartland for more than 40 years. Its success has been propelled by creativity, commitment, and collaboration.
Founder Meg Benben was inspired to enter the business in 1976 while working as an elementary art teacher in metro St. Louis. That spring, the European-made uniforms for the elite NCAA Division I soccer team at SIU-Edwardsville were stolen and the team suddenly faced a new season with no uniforms.
Her fiancé, Rick Benben, then the team’s grad assistant, turned to Meg with a question: “Could she make two custom uniform sets in time for the fall season?” She agreed to the “save.” She only needed jerseys and shorts to make patterns and an adequate supply of material.
One save led to another, and soon demand for her exceptional designs and remarkable service compelled her to leave the teaching profession and officially launch Benben Sportswear. In January 1979, she purchased commercial sewing machines, hired her first employees and started building long-term supplier relationships.
The Time was Right
At the time, U.S. college soccer was growing. When SIU-Edwardsville won the 1979 NCAA championship, a former British soccer player contacted Rick to explore the possibility of Meg making Nike’s first collegiate soccer uniforms. Benben Sportswear accepted the challenge and Meg’s uniforms helped launch the Nike brand in soccer. SIU-Edwardsville wore those uniforms for the 1980 season.
“It was a thrill to work with Nike and ultimately satisfying to see our uniforms on the players when Rick was coaching,” Meg said. “Our company truly was cradled by our family’s love of soccer and nurtured by my graphic and sewing talents.”
Coaches talk, and word got around. The Nike connection quickly established Benben Sportswear as a credible resource for high quality, customizable team uniforms. Simultaneously Benben Sportswear was outfitting several high-profile St. Louis-area high schools, club teams and college soccer teams. By 1983, three of the final four teams for the Missouri State Soccer Championship were wearing Benben Sportswear uniforms.
Kansas City, Here We Come
Rick joined the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Kansas City Comets as the assistant coach in 1982, and the family moved to suburban Kansas City. For a brief time, Benben Sportswear continued to serve St. Louis area clients. In late 1983, a former competitor purchased Benben Sportswear’s machines, patterns and rights to St. Louis clients.
When Meg and Rick’s firstborn, son Matt Benben, followed his dad into youth soccer, Benben Sportswear relaunched in Kansas City. Meg designed and created the first youth team uniforms. Former Comets player and , Johnson County Community College coach Jim Schwab took note. He placed an order for the high-profile JCCC men’s soccer team. The new visibility put Benben Sportswear on the map in Kansas City and orders started flowing in from club and school teams.
A New Generation
The Benben family’s love affair with soccer led Matt Benben to join the Kansas City Wizards in early 2002 as equipment manager. During his two-and-a-half years with the Wizards, he discovered opportunities to enhance team operations with a more comprehensive portfolio of uniform, equipment and the importance of branding even the smallest team.
He joined Meg in Benben Sportswear in a business development role and has helped expand the company’s geographic reach to schools, clubs and other organizations to states across America’s Heartland. Benben Sportswear team members help clients select uniforms from multiple suppliers and customize the look and brand for each. Its expanded product line includes sports equipment, corporate apparel, event apparel and unique custom specialty items like masks. With Rick’s retirement from coaching in early 2020, the family operation continues to grow.
Apparel procurement, logo development, creative design and reliable customer service continue to be our business staples. Superior customer service and satisfaction continue to earn loyal clients for Benben Sportswear.