Fruit of the Loom has inked a licensing deal with Wilson Sporting Goods, providing Fruit with an opportunity to develop, produce, and sell Wilson-branded athletic apparel for the mid-tier retail market. Phil Johnson, who was most recently VP sales for Russell Corp.’s Bike Athletic unit, will lead the sales efforts for Fruit of the Loom as VP Sales for Wilson Sportswear. He will report to Jim Corbett, Fruit’s VP for sports markets. Corbett and Johnson were the one-two sales and marketing punch at Bike before the company filed for Chapter 11 and was acquired by RML.

Corbett told Sports Executive Weekly that this was the type of partnership he has been looking for since joining Fruit of the Loom two years ago.

Fruit will manufacture and distribute Wilson-branded athletic tops and bottoms in adult, women’s, and youth sizes in basic cotton and cotton fleece.