Pulling together

THE STORY

Ever since its exsistence Niko Apparel has been manufacturing Nine-O Apparel right here in Hamilton, ON. Check out our article in the Hamilton Spectator!

 

http://www.thespec.com/article/364351

 

Pulling together

Former Olympians put their backs into it to get uniforms to Canada's rowing team

Lisa Grace Marr
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 5, 2008)

Joe Camillo and Chris Cookson have spent years practising, honing skills and enduring frustrating setbacks to make it to the Olympics.

But podium or no, Camillo and Cookson have already won.

Camillo, who owns Niko Apparel Systems and, with Cookson are co-owners of Regatta Sport in St. Catharines, are now the official supplier and sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Rowing Team.

No small feat, given the bankruptcies, moves offshore and shrinkage of many Canadian clothing manufacturers.

"It's a feather in our cap," said Camillo.

Regatta Sport was spun out of a conversation between the two athletes in 1987 in Copenhagen during the World Championships in rowing.

At the time, Cookson was still rowing, retiring in 1993 after winning the world championships with the men's lightweights.

Camillo, who has a master's degree in business administration from McMaster University, was working full time for Mohawk College and part-time for the business until 1996, when he and his wife, Tricia, both lost their jobs.

Regatta Sport needed a dedicated manufacturer. So that year, the Camillos took over Niko Apparel Systems and since then have developed a boutique manufacturing business with custom fabrics, sizes and designs that cater to niche markets.

While rowing and dragon boat gear is Niko's bread and butter, it's expanded to include a wide variety of high-performance sports gear with a key focus on custom work.

It's a strategy that Camillo says has kept them alive while other Canadian apparel manufacturers have gone bust.

"We'll get calls, e-mails, an image will come by and people will ask if we can replicate it. We also have catalogues," he said.

"It's not widgets. If it was, we'd be gone like so many other manufacturers in this industry."

The key, said Cookson, is fast turnaround.

For example, the Canadian national rowing team placed an order through Regatta Sport last week for a European race.

They need several pieces of gear for each of the 60 athletes on the team in 13 days.

"They'll be stressed about that," said Cookson, gesturing toward the workshop at Niko.

"It's a double-edged sword. It's difficult for us, but it's difficult for everyone else to match that."

The back of Niko's building just off Nebo Road on Hamilton Mountain contains the secret of the company's success: 30 highly skilled employees and a hot design team headed by Ching-Won Mark, a Ryerson University graduate and Brantford native Camillo hired in 2003.

They're used to the stress.

This summer isn't the first time Olympic athletes have worn Regatta Sport clothing.

In the 1990s, Brooks and Champion were the official sponsors of Canada's national rowing team, but Regatta Sport supplied the clothes that Niko stitched.

Nike picked up the team after several athletes scooped up medals at the Olympics and ended the contract with Niko. Nike dropped the team after the last Olympics in 2004.

It was an opportunity Cookson and Camillo couldn't resist.

For the first time this summer, the Olympic athletes will sport the RS logo (for Regatta Sport.)

"It's so cool and it's made here in the Hammer," said Camillo with a grin.

Canada's rowing team isn't the only one with RS gear. Recently, the South African Olympic rowing team placed its order for Beijing.

All Olympic athletes will wear official Canadian Olympic Association gear supplied by the Hudson's Bay Company during opening festivities.

But athletes are able to pick the suits they wear in competition.

That means if the rowing team makes it to the podium, and the men's eight is favoured, the RS logo will be on display.

"We're lucky in that the athletes at this venue go directly to the podium," said Cookson.

The two pitched fast and furious to the national team, providing designs for the unisuits.

In the end, Canada's team chose Regatta Sport to supply the outfits using designs from the winning years of 1994-98.

Cookson said, "They don't want a new design, they want the karma."

lmarr@thespec.com

905-526-3992