How it started
Company history
Based in Vancouver, BC, the company was originally incorporated as Hyp Golf in July 1997, selling only on women's golf clothes. Linda's innovative designs incorporated elements of European runway fashions, challenging the previously conservative market. By the end of their first year, Hyp Golf was sold in over 25 retailers and endorsed by Pearl Sinn (the first LPGA player to endorse the brand on tour) who won the Rolex First-Time Award at the State Farm Classic wearing Hyp Golf.
Other LPGA players who wore Hyp Golf on the LPGA tour include Jill McGill, Grace Park, Kelli Kuehne, Jennifer Greggain, Jamie Hullett, Carin Koch and several others. Hyp Golf fashions were also seen on celebrities including Cheryl Ladd, Catherine Bell, Joumana Kidd, ex-wife of NBA star Jason Kidd, and Stefanie Schaeffer from the popular TV show ‘The Apprentice'.
Hyp Golf entered the US market in 1999 garnering a reputation as a pioneer of stylish, feminine fit styles in women's golf apparel. Hyp Golf officially rebranded as LIJA after recognizing that the demand for Linda's designs, fusing sport and fashion, extended well beyond the golf course.
In 2007, LIJA developed partnerships with local distributors in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa, also opening its first US warehouse and beginning some overseas production. A partnership with a local distributor in the UK followed in 2008. In the same year, LIJA launched its Tour Style Leaders program with other notable players wearing LIJA on the golf course, including Christina Kim, Jane Park, Leta Lindley, Marisa Baena, Jennifer Greggain, Courtney Erdman, Brenda McLarnon and Georgina Simpson giving LIJA exposure on LPGA, Futures and European Tours. Leta Lindley and Georgnia Simpson later went on to become LIJA's tour style leaders for golf.
LIJA branched out its fashions in 2008, launching its first ever Leisure collection. In 2009, LIJA launched two more product categories - Active and Tennis - further developing the company's brand as an all-around activewear company. All three new product categories were created with the same philosophy as the golf collection: creating unique designs that enhance athletic performance yet have a fashionable edge.
From Wikipedia’s article on LIJA Style, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2