Physical Culture Supply Co.
1939 Rens Matinee Sweatshirt
1939 Rens Matinee Sweatshirt
The 1939 Rens Matinee Sweatshirt. Yes, matinee dancing classes every Thursday afternoon at the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem! Show off this historical artifact from the Black Fives Archives, a vintage promotional flyer "for those who don't know how to dance" at the home court of the 1939 World's Champion New York Rens.
In 1939, the New York Rens won the inaugural World's Championship of Professional Basketball, becoming not only New York City's first basketball world's champions, but basketball's first World's Champions, period. Celebrate the New York Rens, the sport's first Black-owned, fully professional African American team.
New York Rens team photo, ca. 1932-35. Left to right: Charles “Tarzan” Cooper, Eyre “Bruiser” Saitch, John Holt, Clarence “Fats” Jenkins, Bill “Yank” Yancey, James “Pappy” Ricks, William “Wee Willie” Smith. (Black Fives Archives)
More on the team here.
• 96% recycled polyester, 4% elastane for manufacturing in the US/Mexico
• Fabric weight (may vary by 5%): 9.08 oz./yd.² (308 g/m²)
• Soft cotton-feel face
• Brushed fleece fabric inside
• Unisex fit
• Overlock seams
• Blank components sourced from China
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction and waste. Your purchase directly supports sustainable manufacturing practices, so thank you for choosing thoughtfully and helping us make history responsibly.
• Traceability:
- Knitting—China
- Dyeing—China
- Manufacturing—Latvia
• Contains 95% recycled polyester
• Contains 0% dangerous substances
• This item may release plastic microfibers into the environment during washing
NOTE: Please allow up to 7 days for fulfillment prior to shipping. Also, since this is a custom-printed item, we cannot cancel the order once in production nor accept returns or exchanges, so please carefully review your order, including sizing. Thank you.
Black Fives®, Rens®, New York Rens®, and Physical Culture Supply Co.™ are trademarks of Black Fives Properties, Inc. All rights reserved.
Size guide
| CHEST (inches) | WAIST (inches) | HIPS (inches) | |
| XS | 36 ¼ | 29 ⅞ | 37 |
| S | 37 ¾ | 31 ½ | 38 ⅝ |
| M | 39 ⅜ | 33 ⅛ | 40 ⅛ |
| L | 42 ½ | 36 ¼ | 43 ¼ |
| XL | 45 ⅝ | 39 ⅜ | 46 ½ |
| 2XL | 48 ⅞ | 42 ½ | 49 ⅝ |
| 3XL | 52 | 45 ⅝ | 52 ¾ |
PHYSICAL CULTURE SUPPLY CO.
The official vintage-style private label of the Black Fives Foundation, was inspired by the widespread Physical Culture movement of the early 1900s, during which basketball first became popular among African Americans.