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In-Between Court & Sportwear was founded
in 1994 by Jane Elizabeth Lazarz, who continues as the company’s
President & Designer. Headquartered in Huntington Beach,
California, In-Between has become the benchmark for quality
in the tennis and active wear market. The company’s trademark
design, The Original CourtShorties™ was
the first successfully marketed tennis ‘shortie’ which
has become known as the industry standard.
After relocating to the Los Angeles area from
Boston, Massachusetts in 1990, Jane, a racquetball fanatic
for over 10 years in New England, decided to take up tennis
and enjoy the Southern California outdoors.
Jane faced two major challenges with switching
over from racquetball to tennis. One was trying to get rid
of her kill shot racquetball forehand, which didn’t
quite work for tennis, and the other was with the tennis attire
popular in the early 90’s. As an avid aerobic and racquetball
enthusiast, Jane was used to a more athletic style of apparel
and had a difficult time feeling comfortable wearing the frilly
or polka-dot panties that were the fashion at the time in ladies
tennis wear. “As a baby boomer, I felt that
being comfortable was an important part of the game as well
as looking good. I started wearing bike shorts under my tennis
skirts, but had a hard time with the extra tennis ball needed
for serving.”
Combining an extensive thirty year background
in design & marketing working in Boston, New York and Los
Angeles in the apparel & advertising industries and with
a little Yankee ingenuity, Jane came up with the concept
of the tennis ‘shortie’. A name she originated
as a cross between a bike short and a panty. By adding two
convenient, easily accessible ‘upside down’ ball
pockets, The Original CourtShorties™ was
created and a new trend in ladies tennis apparel was started.
The CourtShortie was just the beginning of
many innovative designs that have since been introduced by
In-Between Court & Sportwear.
The concept for The Original CourtShorties™ was
conceived in February 1994 on Valentine’s Day and in
September of that year, Jane along with new business partner
Mark Mathis attended their first trade show to introduce CourtShorties. |
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Mark continues today as the
company’s Vice President. This trade show was CASA, the
California Association for Sports Apparel located in Costa
Mesa, California.
FYI…the name ‘In-Between’ came
from an idea Jane had for ‘booth positioning’ at
this very trade show. Head and Tail Sportswear were two of
the leading brands of tennis apparel at that time and she
thought it would be advantageous for the exhibit booth to
be located…well…in between… these two.
The CASA show was a great introductory success
and In-Between was off and running. We also signed up our
first rep at the show and have since expanded to twelve national
reps.
Norm Bloom and wife Gail, one of our first
and foremost sales reps have continued with the company through
the years with their support, dedication, and guidance in
good times and growing pains. They both are a very important
and integral part of the fabric of this company’s success
today.
In-Between Sportwear continues to bring innovative
styles in a smart balance of form, function and fashion. Our
line is manufactured with our signature ‘MicroTek Supreme™’
fabric, which is a superb blend of Meryl® nylon microfiber
& Lycra® the ultimate in comfort, easy care, durability
and performance. We are known as the ‘Mercedes’
of ladies tennis wear throughout the USA and is the benchmark
to which other brands are compared.
Our line is proudly manufactured in the USA.
This has which has given us the ability to respond quickly
to trends, suggestions and/or problems that may arise. It
also allows us to bring new styles the market in a very short
turn around time. As Jane has often said, “We may be
a small ship in a big harbor but we sure get around.”
And by the looks of an ever-growing customer base, the word
is getting around as well.
Please take your time and browse our website
and see for yourself why In-Between Court & Sportwear
has become one of the fastest growing tennis and active-sportswear
line in the United States.
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