COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2329

Men/Boy's Clothing, Not Elsewhere Classified

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1816–1990founding years32still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRemington Arms Company, Inc.
1816
FoundedHelly Hansen ASA
1877
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAngelica Corporation
1904
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHampton Industries, Inc.
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedColumbia Sportswear Company
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAlgo Group Inc.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedFruit of the Loom, Inc.
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCrystal Brands, Inc.
1970
FoundedStarter Corp.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedLiz Claiborne, Inc.FoundedQuiksilver, Inc.
1976
FoundedGianni Versace SpA
1977
FoundedL.A. T Sportswear, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedBrazos Sportswear, Inc.FoundedSun Sportswear, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedVarsity Spirit Corp.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPluma, Inc.
1986
FoundedMossimo, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Remington Arms Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1816
Remington Arms Co.
Helly Hansen ASA →
Active · founded 1877 · Norway
Helly Hansen ASA is a world-leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of a branded line of clothing and…
Lee Apparel Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1889
Lee Apparel Company, Inc.
Angelica Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
Angelica Corporation is the leading supplier of textile rental and laundry services in the United States and holds…
Mizuno Corporation →
Active · founded 1906 · Japan
Mizuno Corporation is a world leader in sports equipment manufacturing.
Hampton Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Hampton Industries, Inc.
Tultex Corporation →
Active · founded 1937
The Tultex Corporation is a leading marketer of fleeced sportswear and licensed sports apparel.
Columbia Sportswear Company →
Active · founded 1938
The largest outerwear manufacturer in the world, Columbia Sportswear Company designs, manufactures, and markets outdoor…
Algo Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1942 · Canada
Founded in 1942 as a small dress manufacturer, Algo Group Inc.
Stone Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1945
Stone Manufacturing Company is one of the leading producers of men and women's clothing in the United States, and owns…
Fruit of the Loom, Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Fruit of the Loom, Inc., a global manufacturer and marketer of family apparel, is America's biggest seller of men's…
K2 Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A thriving recreational and industrial products company, K2 Inc.
Crystal Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Crystal Brands, Inc., manufactures and merchandises sportswear, costume jewelry, and accessories under some of the…
Prince Sports Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Prince Sports Group, Inc.
Starter Corp. →
Active · founded 1971
Starter Corp.
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc.
Liz Claiborne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Quiksilver, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
A celebrated name among surfers across the globe, Quiksilver, Inc.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Urban Outfitters, Inc.
Gianni Versace SpA →
Active · founded 1977 · Italy
Headquartered in a Milanese palazzo, Gianni Versace SpA is second only to rival house Giorgio Armani among Italy's…
Jordache Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Jordache Enterprises, Inc.
L.A. T Sportswear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
L.A.
Reebok International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1979
Reebok International Ltd.
Brazos Sportswear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
With the capacity to decorate more than 20 million garments per year, Brazos Sportswear, Inc.
Sun Sportswear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
The largest producer of silkscreened apparel in the United States, Sun Sportswear, Inc., designs, sources, prints,…
Arctco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
One of the pioneers in its industry, Arctco, Inc.
Varsity Spirit Corp. →
Active · founded 1983
Varsity Spirit Corp.
Designer Holdings Ltd. →
Active · founded 1984
Designer Holdings Ltd.
Pluma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Pluma, Inc.
Ashworth, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Ashworth, Inc.
Mossimo, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
A dynamic force in the apparel industry during the 1990s, Mossimo, Inc.
Cutter & Buck Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
A fast-growing apparel company, Cutter & Buck Inc.
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