Custom Sports Jacket: Custom Sports Jacket

Custom Sports Jacket

In 1985 when I was walking south down Ave A near 12th Street and discovered a small shop that made baseball caps and embroidered names onto sports jackets. Ben, the owner, had one lady working with him. Next door to Ben was Moe, who sold sports equipment as well as iron-on letters and material. I got Ben to make me a cap and went next door to Moe’s, where I got some iron on felt pieces and cut out a design that I ironed onto the front of Ben’s cap. When I returned to visit Ben I discovered he had made back patches for the Savage Skulls, a Bronx street gang. I put two and two together and asked Ben if he could embroider the panels going around a baseball cap. He was reluctant at first, but after a little persuasion, he agreed to give it a try.