Apparel Redefined

Born in 1970, Apparel Redefined was originally named Angie & Rich’s Custom Screening & Monogramming. It was a bonafide startup; Angie and Rich started the business working out of their garage. They made tees for the local rec, police, and fire departments.

The disco era ushered in a fashion revolution. T-shirts went from dull undershirts to blank canvases for self-expression. Angie & Rich’s grew substantially thanks to this culture shift.

In 1977 the company moved into a 3,500 sqft location in Bridgeview, IL. They built a screen printing production line, sewing and embroidery stations, and a front office.

After more than three and a half decades successfully running Angie & Rich’s, the couple decided it was time to move on in 2006. The name was shortened to A&R Screening under new ownership.

In 2006 apparel technology, trends, and fabrics were all changing. Cotton t-shirt demand fell sharply. Under Armor skyrocketed from zero by introducing high-performance dri-fit fabrics at scale. A&R recognized this shift early and carved out its niche in decorating athletic apparel. The company invested in new technology and developed processes that focused on quality and efficiency.

After 11 years of excellent service, dedication, and passion the President of A&R Screening, Jo-Ellen Doranzo, retired in July 2017. Vice President John LaRoy stepped into the role.

A&R achieved unprecedented growth, change, and focus the following 18 months. Consequently, the company sold its Bridgeview location and moved into a 22,000 sqft facility in Crestwood, IL in February ‘18.

Management decided to rebrand the company to reflect this radical evolution. They wanted to pay homage to A&R’s roots but clearly show stakeholders this startup-minded company is on the cutting-edge of innovation in its industry. A&R morphed into AR. The initials were repurposed to stand for Apparel Redefined. Apparel Redefined launched in December 2018.