Apparel basics manufacturer BELLA+CANVAS appoints a new president. Norm Hullinger, who’s been the company’s chief operating officer since 2021, has been promoted.

The leadership change comes as Chris Blakeslee, BELLA’s president since 2017, heads to Gap Inc. to serve as president and chief executive officer of performance apparel brand Athleta. According to a press release from Gap Inc., Blakeslee led the expansion of BELLA into the retail space, offering customers access to products online and in-store at its Santa Monica, California, brick-and-mortar.

BELLA+CANVAS Under Hullinger Leadership

Credit: BELLA+CANVAS

Hullinger’s background in apparel and distribution spans more than 20 years, including his tenure at BELLA as COO, as well as over 18 years at alphaborder, including COO and CEO roles.

BELLA has seen growth in recent years, most recently opening a 1.4 million-sq.-ft. distribution facility in Las Vegas. During this announcement, Hullinger stressed the company’s focus on technology to grow the business and create more U.S. jobs. Under his guidance over the last two years, BELLA has also expanded its sewing operations in Central America.

Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Founders Danny Harris and Marco DeGeorge express confidence in Hullinger’s ability to lead the company to continued success.

“We feel there is nobody better than Hullinger to help lead this great brand as its president,” Harris says.

In a press release, BELLA notes that Hullinger’s comprehensive knowledge of the apparel industry and passion for the brand make him the right candidate to step into this new leadership role.

Hullinger tells Apparelist, “I am incredibly excited to undertake the president role at BELLA+CANVAS – the most dynamic, forward-thinking brand in the industry.  I very much look forward to working closely with the amazing BELLA+CANVAS Team to take our brand to new heights.”