There's no crying in baseball -- or in fashion.

This is something Liza Goncalves learned when she stopped designing high-end, fashionable throwback sports jerseys for a company in New York and started producing a line of more affordable tees and totes inspired by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and the movie A League of Their Own.

"I've always been into sports, and in high school I was voted best female athlete," Goncalves said of her love for sports-related fashions.

This passion also landed her an opportunity to host a sports show for Black Entertainment Television (BET) where she said she was never satisfied with the wardrobe provided for her. Goncalves began cutting her husband's jerseys into styles fit to her liking. The rest is history.

Her company, Vintage Blue, received exclusive license to the AAGPBL in 2004, giving Goncalves the opportunity to expand the 1940s styles of the movie A League of Their Own for her new line of tees and totes with a baseball theme.

"People might say that they don't like the movie or baseball, but we want to get across that Vintage Blue is just an all-American vintage brand," she said.

Goncalves has also welcomed the innovations and ideas of partner Michelle D'Avella, who joined the company as the art director in 2006. D'Avella was an advocate for making Vintage Blue's fashions eco-friendly.

"So much is going on in the world, and people don't relate it to their daily life," D'Avella said, providing reasoning for making Vintage Blue an outlet for "green" garments at an affordable price.

"We are really big on being comfortable, good in quality and having eco-friendly fabrics," she said.

Vintage Blue is also committed to donating five percent of its proceeds to various nonprofit organizations.

"We really want to be known as a lifestyle and a brand. So, we wanted to team up with positive organizations who help the less fortunate," D'Avella said.

The original plan was for customers to be able to choose whichever organization in the Vintage Blue

Web site must be worked out before this can be made possible.

Right now, D'Avella said the company is happy to be sponsoring kiva.org, which helps entrepreneurs in developing countries.

"It helps people to do what we're doing, but in different parts of the world," D'Avella said.

The pair is looking to expand the market of their merchandise dramatically within the next year.

"We really want to branch the line out to boutiques in Philly, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and other key fashion areas," Goncalves said.

Vintage Blue has had success with boutiques in the Philadelphia area, including the Arcadia Boutique in Northern Liberties and TAG in Manayunk.

"I think Philly will always be our home base," said Goncalves, a Drexel University graduate.

Goncalves also plans to expand the line from just tees and totes to the inclusion of dresses and hoodies. They will continue with the AAGPBL theme, but also include different sports like football and skiing to go along with the changing seasons, Goncalves said.

She added that Vintage Blue is a fashionable sportswear brand that also has a type of Abercrombie & Fitch or Ralph Lauren collegiate feel, with comfortable tees and hoodies to wear to class.

"Our brand stands for and projects a lifestyle that I think college students would appreciate," she said.