Apparel & Active Wear Firm Grows in Indy

Indy Chamber News Archives

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2013) - Motionwear, LLC, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of women's dance, gymnastics, team and cheer apparel, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 28 new jobs by 2016.

The homegrown-Hoosier company will invest $229,600 to equip its existing facility located at 1315 Sunday Drive in Indianapolis. The expansion, which will be fully operational by January, will allow the company to purchase enterprise resource planning and product lifecycle management systems, new servers and related equipment.

"Motionwear's success in this industry is a testament to its 25 year history of providing quality American-made products to athletes around the world," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. "We are very proud of our many successful homegrown-Hoosier companies and we congratulate Motionwear on this most recent expansion and success." 

Motionwear, which currently employs more than 180 full-time Indiana associates, has already begun hiring new manufacturing, administrative, customer service, sales and warehouse associates. Interested applicants may apply in person at Motionwear or by sending a resume to [email protected].

"We are committed to maintaining and growing our operations in Indiana and we are so pleased to be in a state that supports our efforts," said Theresa Mason, vice president of Motionwear. "We have a diverse workforce with employees from five continents who have found Indiana to be a great place to live and work. Indiana also provides excellent markets for our product: Motionwear provides apparel to Hoosiers who embrace the art of danceand the sports of gymnastics and cheerleading. Indianapolis is centrally located for both suppliers and North American customers. We have local resources available at reasonable costs to continue to grow our business."

Emily Wilson founded Motionwear in 1987 when, noticing that most dancewear available lacked a good fit, comfort, fashion and value, she decided to design leotards for her daughter. Today the company supplies active wear to retailers, studios, gyms and internet customers. Its products, most produced in Indiana, are sold throughout the United States and internationally.

"Motionwear's success, from their Hoosier roots to today's global market, is a testament to their strong leadership and Indy's outstanding economic environment," said Brian Gildea, Vice President and Executive Director of Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber. "We congratulate them on this success and look forward to their continued growth."
 
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Motionwear, LLC up to $85,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Indianapolis supports the project at the request of Develop Indy.

"Through Motionwear, Hoosier-made products are supporting physical fitness for athletes across Indiana and around the world," said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "From the early phases of product design to the last performance on stage, Indiana innovation is improving the way active wear is designed and manufactured, all supported by low tax environment in a state that works for business."

Just this year, 20 companies have announced plans to expand in Marion County, with more than $82 million in capital investment and upwards of 3,000 jobs planned for the coming years. Last month software solutions firm Bloomerang announced plans to expand its Lawrence operations, creating up to 70 new jobs by 2023.

About Motionwear
Fit, comfort, fashion and value. When Motionwear founder Emily Wilson saw these traits lacking in dancewear available for her daughter, she took matters into her own hands; designing and sewing her own superior-fitting leotards. Motionwear was born. Twenty-five years later, Motionwear has grown to become a leading supplier of dance, gymnastics, team and cheer apparel world-wide. Today, those same qualities remain the core foundation upon which Motionwear products are crafted. Motionwear's apparel is proudly made for you in the USA. For more information, visit www.motionwear.com.

About Develop Indy
Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber, is Marion County's local economic development organization. Develop Indy is dedicated to attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing businesses and serving as a catalyst for capital investment and quality job growth in Indianapolis/Marion County. For more information, visit www.developindy.com.   

About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC. 

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

 
Media Contacts: 
Chuck Pugh (Motionwear) - 317.780.0609 or [email protected]
Jessica Higdon (Indy Chamber) - 317.464.2232 or [email protected]  
Katelyn Hancock (IEDC) - 317.234.2294 or [email protected]