First Ever
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sportswear, Clothing |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Justin Kestelman (owner) |
| Products | Sportswear, ath-street clothing |
First Ever Pty Ltd. is a Melbourne-based Australian manufacturer founded in 2018. The company acted as the designated producer and supplier of sportswear and clothing for the National Basketball League throughout the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, and currently manufactures apparel for Softball Australia. Additionally, it designs and markets "ath-street" clothing that draws inspiration from Melbourne's cultural identity and heritage.
Company history
The National Basketball League introduced its own sportswear line in 2018 to promote basketball development across Australia. Under the "First Ever" label, the business began creating basketball apparel and providing uniforms to both grassroots organizations and elite NBL teams nationwide.
Justin Kestelman, the owner, explained that a portion of proceeds from every jersey sold would be allocated to initiatives supporting basketball growth in Australia. As co-owner of the NBL and Melbourne United alongside his father Larry, Kestelman recognized an opportunity for a pioneering Australian ath-street brand that blends basketball culture with the wider community. His vision for First Ever was to "inspire, style, create and collaborate" with prominent fashion and sports brands such as the NBL.
In August 2019, First Ever unveiled "FE Custom," a service enabling customers to personalize basketball apparel featuring the First Ever logo, with delivery guaranteed within ten days.
On 12 March 2020, the American sportswear giant Champion took over as the official NBL apparel partner starting from the 2020/21 season.
Merchandising licensed manufacturer
First Ever holds official licensing agreements as a manufacturer for major Australian sports organizations:
- National Basketball League – all teams (2018–2020)
- Softball Australia – national squads (2019–present)