DARLINGTON- Edgar Mendez, a 2015 Darlington graduate has been growing his designer athletic clothing brand, ‘AMB Ambition’, since it’s start in 2020. “The idea of designing my own line of athletic clothing came to me while offduty in a Madison hotel room.” Mendez says. He was deployed in the National Guard to assist with COVID-19. While in isolation, Mendez spent all of his free time dedicated toward working on his brand with various manufacturers all over the world. He strived for the best product while going over clothing samples, marketing ideas, and scheduling photoshoots. Mendez recalls many trial and errors, sleepless nights, and stressed-out days, but casually says, “It was all part of the process.”
Mendez, along with Katie Pingel, his business partner, and partner in life; have recently teamed up with Tria-GameFace, which is a top competitor in the field of sports performance for varsity, college, and professional athletes. Teaming with Tria-GameFace fits in line with ‘AMB Ambition’, and it’s mission statement, as AMB stands for Achieve, Motivate, Believe. “We work hard to produce clothing that not only allows you to pursue your best in and out of the gym, but we are working hard to give back to the community,” Mendez and Pingel add proudly. Mendez is the son of Hector Mendez and Minerva Aguilar of South Wayne. He graduated from Southwest Tech with a degree in graphic web design. Mendez served for 8 years in the National Guard, reaching the rank of Sergeant, before resigning, to continue to market his brand ‘AMB Ambition’.
He and Pingel live in Galena, Ill.; as it is close to both their hometowns; Darlington and Scales Mound.
The manufacturing quality of the products speaks for itself, as the ‘AMB Ambition’ clothing line is comparable in quality and price with top marketing brands. Manufactured with a blend of nylon, polyester, and spandex, ‘AMB Ambition’ has a live-in quality that is expected to last for several years. As we spoke, I was privileged to become familiar with the merchandise. The halfzip pullover has a soft fuzzy warmth that seems top quality. The texture of the windbreaker caught my eye as I admired the quality of fabric. Both garments had a layered quality about them, as is similar with other work-out gear. There is the overall familiar feel of functionality for any level of work-out, from walking and running to weights and excessive training regiments. To really capture the quality of the products, shoppers will soon have the ability to purchase the ‘AMB Ambition’ line in stores, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, which was one of the goals Mendez has set for his brand. Goals, such as career opportunities, while partnering with an investor is something that Mendez hopes to achieve as well. He considers the building of jobs to be a way of building a better community. Another goal he holds in his heart is to bring his brand of athletic clothing to Darlington. “It would be an honor and a privilege to put the Darlington Redbird logo on my brand. I want to eventually give back to the community where I grew up.”
While growing strong, ‘AMB Ambition’ seeks ambassadors who believe in the brand. “All of the models are from the Madison area, and are volunteers who believe in the clothing line” says Pingel, who sees more growth coming by the new years end. The models she is referring to are featured on their website, and other social media outlets. Among the elite stands an NFL corner back, who’s name may sound familiar to those who enjoy football. Caesar Dancy-Williams, who plays for the LA Rams, has been a faithful supporter of ‘AMB Ambition’ since the start of the brand. Dancy-Williams (#35) is a rookie player from Wisconsin, who Mendez met while in Madison. There are all ages and walks of life wearing the brand. The ambassadors, who support Mendez, look forward to the new product “drops” that they have the privilege of trying before the general public gets a chance to see the new product. This special opportunity gives the ambassadors the chance to give feedback on the new products, some limited edition, before they reach consumers; that way if modifications are necessary, then all considerations are made before the garments go out for sale. As Mendez continues to seek the elite quality he strives for, you can find both he and Pingel inspecting each item themselves. Both are detail oriented. Only the best items are marketed with the ‘AMB’ logo. To learn more about the ‘AMB Ambition’ brand, Mendez and Pingel, and the many items that are available, log onto AMBambition. com. From now until mid-January, you can save up to 70% off online, while supplies last. ‘AMB Ambition’ is an empowering company, who supports those who strive for excellence. To connect with Mendez, call him direct at 608-293-4013 or email: info @ ambambition.com.
