Our Story
1997
Hyp Golf was started by Linda Hipp in July 1997 in Vancouver, Canada to address a need for a fashionable alternative in women's golf apparel.
1998
The Hyp Golf line debuted with a mere 12 styles in Spring 1998. The first retailer to offer Hyp Golf was Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club on Vancouver Island. By the end of its first year, Hyp Golf made its way into more than 25 retailers. That same year, Pearl Sinn, the first ever LPGA player to endorse the brand on tour won the Rolex First-Time Award at the State Farm Classic wearing Hyp Golf.
1999
In 1999, Hyp Golf entered the US market and quickly gained the reputation as a pioneer of stylish, feminine fit styles in women's golf apparel.
2000
LIJA's refreshing style caught the attention of the US golf media who made this young company the talk of the North American Golf scene. Jill McGill became the second of a series of LPGA players over the next 8 years to wear Hyp Golf on the LPGA tour including Grace Park, Kelli Kuehne, Jennifer Greggain, Jamie Hullett, Carin Koch and several others. Some celebrities also started to wear LIJA while several others followed over the next few years including Cheryl Ladd, Catherine Bell, Joumana Kidd, wife of NBA star Jason Kidd, and Stefani Schaeffer from the popular TV show ‘The Apprentice'.
2003
Hyp Golf hired its 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th employees including the first National Sales Manager. This is also the year that Hyp Golf received its first professional accolades from the business community including Linda's award for Top 40 Under 40 Business Achievement Award by Business in Vancouver Magazine and a special grant from the Matinee Fashion Foundation. Other awards earned by Hyp Golf and LIJA may be found under Our Achievements section of the website.
2004
Hyp Golf officially re-brands as LIJA (pr. Lee-zha), a play on the word 'leisure', responding to the broader market demand as Linda's designs were starting to be embraced beyond the golf marketplace.
2005
The first collection under the label LIJA starts shipping in Spring 2005. LIJA wins the first of four Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Canada Awards by Profit Magazine.
2006
LIJA launches its Ambassadors Program for women of influence such as Jane Blalock and Denise Lindman. LIJA also started sponsoring LPGA and Futures Tour players including Christina Kim, Kristina Tucker and Tina Miller some of which later transitioned to become LIJA Tour Style Leaders.
2007
LIJA expands to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and South Africa in partnership with local distributors in those regions, opens its first US warehouse and starts overseas production on some product lines. This same year, LIJA celebrated its 10 year anniversary by taking its staff of 15 to Las Vegas to commemorate the occasion.
2008
LIJA launches its inaugural Leisure Collection in Spring 2008. LIJA expands internationally into the UK in partnership with a reputable local distributor. LIJA established a new Executive team and honored 4 employees with ‘5 years' at LIJA. LIJA launches Tour Style Leaders program with which several other high profile players start to wear LIJA on the 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.
2009
In Spring 2009, LIJA introduces its first ever active and tennis collections throughout North America.
LIJA currently has a full time staff of 28, and 2 business offices; 1 in Richmond, BC and another in Ferndale, WA. LIJA's distribution is serviced by 4 Canadian, 16 U.S and 3 International (UK, South Africa, Dubai) rep forces/agencies.
