FULL ARMOR CLOTHING PROFILE
Posted on | April 24, 2007 | 1 Comment
FULL ARMOR CLOTHING
By: Rich Bergeron
For someone who is legally blind, Full Armor Clothing President and CEO Shawn Migliaccio has an incredible vision. Incorporated in 2005, the company’s name came from a passage in the Bible, but their customer base is by no means confined to the Christian crowd.
“We don’t really push ourselves as a Christian line,” Migliaccio said. “It’s a wide variety, and right now we’re trying to get into the fight market, and we’re working deals with Victory Records and Immortal Records. There’s some guys into the urban industry wearing our stuff, some WWE fighters wearing our stuff and we’re also tied up with some TNA and AWA wrestling guys. We’ve been in talks with Kenny Florian’s people, too. We’re working with some other guys more on an indy level in MMA.”
Unlike some other clothing lines out there with only the basic staples available, Full Armor Clothing offers everything from baseball caps to a new line of boots they are working to establish. “We’re kind of building beyond what you see with a lot of guys with the basic t-shirts kind of line,” said Migliaccio. “We’re expanding out to jeans and jackets and hiker boots, which are being made right now. They’re Timberland kind of boots, and we’re working with a New York City company that will be branding our first sneakers soon. That’s the whole thing that’s set us apart to this point, more so just the universal appeal of it. We make clothing that’s something not only wear to the ring, but also out to the clubs and to events. We’re more on the fashion side maybe, for a lot of our line.”
Migliaccio is excited about the future and not ashamed to admit most of his connections came from the company’s MySpace site. “Everyday’s a new opportunity, and everyday’s been a new connection. A lot of stuff we’ve done through MySpace has been incredible, and we’ve connected with so many different guys there, and picked up on so many different opportunities, it’s pretty limitless. All our connections have honestly come off of MySpace,” he said. “Right now we’re talking with a couple pretty big lines, and we’re trying to get Full Armor set up as a subsidiary of some of the major, well-known lines.”
Full Armor is making some great progress already in MMA circles, and they are hoping to sponsor some influential fighters down the line. “We had a lot of interest to start with as far as MMA guys,” said Migliaccio. “It’s kind of a matter of finding the right fit for us. We’re looking for guys more on a positive side, guys who are serious about what they’re doing. If we’re going to invest our product and our money, we don’t want someone out there fighting once a year. It takes a certain passion, and we want fighters who are ready to push us as far as we’re willing to push them.”
The company has branched off into multiple categories for sponsorships and found that lots of artists and athletes tend to look for a one-shot deal. “We get a lot of guys looking for an endorsement deal for one event, but we’re trying to build stuff for a more long term basis,” he said. “We definitely want to build the brand.”
Full Armor started with the basic ball cap and T-shirt offerings and expanded as time went on. Decorative images and artwork add a flair to their products that is both unique and appealing. On top of the intricate designing, the company is always thinking for the future and constantly developing new gear and products. “We have a whole new line of hats coming out, and we’re moving a little more toward the fashion side with military caps and stuff, track jackets, outer wear, varsity jackets, and leather jackets,” said Migliaccio. “We also have oversized duffel bags, which is one way we connect with extreme athletes, by filling up duffel bags and shipping them out filled with stuff. Now we’re getting into jeans, sneakers, and boots. Pretty much, anything you can think of, we’re expanding into it.”
Name recognition is incredibly important to Full Armor, and the pinnacle for them would be to have their products worn and known worldwide. “The ultimate goal, we just want to see how far we can possibly take it,” Migliaccio said. “We’d love to see it go national, and we’re pursuing the retail and marketing side now. That’s something we’d love to see on a larger basis. Hopefully at some point we can be as recognizable as TapOut or anybody else out there as well-known.”
Full Armor is working with quite a few MX riders, snowboarders in X-Games, and other extreme athletes. They are looking to sign sponsorships with athletes in all sports. “We’re definitely looking to sponsor guys and pick up new sponsorships,” said Migliaccio.
Though he tries not to harp on his being legally blind, Migliaccio does admit that fact often brings a lot of attention to what he’s doing. “That obviously opens lot of doors, but it’s not like I can’t see at all,” he said. He certainly has not let his physical handicap define him or delay him from making serious progress.
To find out more about Full Armor Clothing visit their MySpace at: www.myspace.com/faclothing
And check out their traditional Web-site at: www.faclothing.com
