About Anton Sport FROM AN ASU DORM ROOM TO DECADES OF CUSTOM APPAREL
Anton Sport has been helping businesses, schools, teams, organizations, and events bring their ideas to life with custom apparel, screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, and more since 1985.
200 Shirts Changed Everything
Anton Sport started with an idea, a college student, and a willingness to take a chance.
While attending Arizona State University, John Anton printed 200 T-shirts for an upcoming ASU vs. USC football game. They sold out in less than two hours.
Over the next several years, John became a familiar face at college events and earned a simple nickname: the campus T-shirt guy.
After spending time in the corporate world, John returned to the business and purchased his own screen printing equipment. What began in his garage eventually required a bigger home.
John sold his car, invested his savings, rented out his house, and purchased a warehouse on Scottsdale Road in Tempe. He moved the business, and for a time even his bed, into the building just blocks from the ASU campus where the story began.
Four Decades of Taking Chances
From selling shirts around ASU to building apparel, uniform, and e-commerce businesses, Anton Sport has continued to evolve while staying rooted in Tempe.
The First 200 Shirts
John Anton prints 200 T-shirts for an ASU vs. USC football game. The shirts sell out in less than two hours, helping turn an idea into a business.
Anton Sport Finds a Home in Tempe
After returning to screen printing, John invests his savings in a warehouse on Scottsdale Road. Anton Sport establishes a permanent home just blocks from Arizona State University.
A Big Break at the Phoenix Open
Anton Sport receives an order to produce official shirts for the PGA's Phoenix Open. The project helps propel the growing custom apparel business forward.
Production Expands
As Anton Sport grows, its Tempe production facility expands to more than 10,000 square feet.
DesignAShirt.com Launches
Seeing the potential of online customization, Anton invests in a web-based design system that allows customers to create apparel designs and control more of the ordering process online.
Anton Uniforms Grows
Anton expands further into school uniforms, building another specialized apparel business serving schools and families.
Fair Labor Association Membership
Anton Sport joins the Fair Labor Association and gains additional training and resources focused on responsible and ethical supply chain practices.
Green Initiatives Begin
Anton formalizes environmental initiatives ranging from reducing disposable products and improving chemical choices to encouraging more sustainable transportation.
224 Solar Panels and Water Reclamation
Anton invests in water reclamation equipment for production and installs more than 200 solar panels to help power its Tempe production facility.
Investing in the Team
Anton continues expanding employee benefits and development, including financial planning education, healthcare benefits, retirement contributions, paid leave, and workplace flexibility.
Giving Back
Programs and partnerships including the Donor Tee Program and support for the Ronan Thompson Foundation expand Anton's involvement in causes important to the community.
Responding to a New Need
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anton pivots part of its operation to PPE distribution to help customers and organizations navigate rapidly changing needs.
Still Building
Anton Sport continues to serve local and national customers with custom apparel, screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, uniforms, and evolving decoration technologies.
More Than a T-Shirt Company
The business has changed substantially since those first 200 shirts, but the goal is still simple: help customers find the right product and produce it well.
Custom Apparel
Thousands of apparel options for businesses, schools, teams, organizations, and events.
Garment Decoration
Screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment printing, and additional decoration methods for a wide range of projects.
Promotional Products
Branded merchandise, giveaways, gifts, drinkware, bags, technology, awards, and thousands of additional promotional products.
Built Around People, Quality & Progress
Growth has never been only about adding equipment or square footage. Anton Sport has continued investing in the people, processes, and practices behind the finished product.
Still Proudly Rooted in Tempe, Arizona
Anton Sport's story began around Arizona State University and remains rooted in Tempe today. From our Scottsdale Road facility, we serve businesses, schools, teams, organizations, and events throughout Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, the surrounding Valley, and beyond.
What started with 200 T-shirts has grown into multiple apparel and customization businesses, but the willingness to solve problems, take chances, and build lasting relationships remains part of how we work.
Let's Make Something Together
Whether you know exactly what you need or want help figuring it out, our team can help with apparel, decoration, promotional products, and your next custom project.
