Meet the Athens boutique that repairs Georgia football uniforms each week

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When Georgia football players get a rip in their jerseys, equipment managers don't simply throw them away.

Nope, in fact, the Bulldogs give back to the community. Almost literally.

Community, an Athens boutique specializing in local fashion, sews and stitches damaged uniforms back into playing shape for the next game.

"It feels a little surreal, I have to say," said Sanni Baumgärtner, founder and owner of Community, as she chuckled in amusement. "When I see the jerseys on the TV, there is a bit of a disconnect in my brain that these are the jerseys that we have hand-sewn every week."

Here's how the boutique does more than just repairs.

How Georgia football gets its jerseys repaired

Community not only repairs jerseys each week, they sew on graduate patches, bowl game patches and provide alterations requests from the equipment team.

For the past six or seven years, after each game, UGA football equipment managers bring between 20 to 30 torn, ripped and damaged jerseys for surgery, to make them look good as new for the next game.

Community repairs holes, tears, rips and nameplates that might have come loose.

"We just go through and mend everything and repair and sew the patches back on," Baumgärtner said. "I would say in the last couple years we've also been customizing the jerseys more for the players, so that's kind of a newer thing."

While on-field jerseys might have battle scars on them, its the fit on the player that makes them unique and worth repairing. Community will receive jerseys from the equipment staff with pins and markings and how certain players want their uniforms altered.

"We're doing alterations to the jerseys to fit the players perfectly, allow more freedom of movement," she said. "So they're able to bring their maximum performance during the game."

How does the Community operation work?

After being recommended to UGA Athletics for excellent work, the football program gave the boutique a brief tryout. It soon had the job.

Community's alteration specialist, Tiffany, does much of the work, but it takes a team depending on the workload, and more people could be brought in as needed.

It could take several hands sewing and stitching, especially when it comes to putting on patches like the Sugar Bowl patch for Thursday's College Football Playoff showdown with Ole Miss at 8 p.m. ET.

And like many Georgia football fans, Community isn't sure, but hopeful, that more workload is coming.

"Now coming up, potentially, the Fiesta Bowl patches, which we won't know until the first," Baumgärtner said, "then we have to bring in several people because that's a lot in a short period of time."

What is Community Boutique?

Baumgärtner opened the downtown Athens store 15 years ago after coming to Athens for a study abroad program. "With the help of a friend I started my clothing label Community Service in 2010 and that led to the dream of having my own boutique," her website reads.

The store prides itself on its upscale vintage designs that are locally made with sustainable fabrics that are designed and sold right in the store.

Where is Community Boutique in Athens?

Community is located at 260 N. Jackson Street in downtown Athens.

Georgia football and Community: A perfect Athens match

Community has a customer review on its site from Gage Whitten, UGA football's director of equipment and apparel.

"Community has been an incredible partner for our football program at the University of Georgia. We’ve trusted them for several years to handle all of our uniform needs — from jersey repairs and alterations to custom sewing work — they’ve never let us down. Their attention to detail, craftsmanship, and pride in their work are unmatched. No matter the job, big or small, they always deliver quality results on time and with great care. It’s clear they take tremendous pride in what they do, and it shows in every stitch. Simply put, Community is the best in town — we couldn’t recommend them more highly! Thanks for all that you do for us! Go Dawgs!”

Baumgärtner agrees that the match couldn't be more perfect.

"We are very aware of what an honor it is to work with the Georgia Bulldogs," she said. "We make it always our priority that whatever they need and whenever they need it, it will get done."

Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at rdennis@onlineathens.com.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Meet the Athens boutique that repairs torn Georgia football jerseys

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