Jessica’s shirts are a winner with athletes

Apr 30 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

THE problems encountered by sportsmen searching for smart shirts that fit has inspired a university graduate to start her own business to plug the gap in the market.

Northumbria University graduate Jessica McLean started her company, Shirt, to produce smart uniform pre and post-match shirts after seeing the problems her rugby-playing business partner Mike McCarthy faced finding such a simple item.

She has completed her first order – for Connacht Rugby Club in Ireland where Mike is a player – just three months after starting trading.

The fashion marketing graduate, who scooped top prize in the recent Northumbria University Business Plan Awards, took the measurements of each player and sourced tailors in Hong Kong to produce 46 white shirts at competitive prices.

Jessica, from Newcastle, said: “I’m really pleased that Shirt’s first major order has been such a success. Both management and players are so pleased with the shirts that they will be ordering them in black at the beginning of next season.”