COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2325

Men's/Boys' Trousers & Slacks

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

22companies1889–1987founding years20still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedLee Apparel Company, Inc.FoundedLee Apparel Company, Inc.
1889
FoundedLevi Strauss & Co.FoundedLevi Strauss & Co.
1890
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHealthtex, Inc.
1921
FoundedHaggar CorporationFoundedHaggar Corporation
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAlgo Group Inc.FoundedAlgo Group Inc.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedFarah Incorporated
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKellwood CompanyFoundedKellwood Company
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedBugle Boy Industries, Inc.FoundedBugle Boy Industries, Inc.
1977
FoundedJordache Enterprises, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAshworth, Inc.FoundedAshworth, Inc.FoundedThe Gitano Group, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
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.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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

Lee Apparel Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1889
Lee Apparel Company, Inc.
Lee Apparel Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1889
Lee Apparel Company, Inc.
Levi Strauss & Co. →
Active · founded 1890
Levi Strauss & Co., the world's largest brand-name apparel manufacturer, gave the world blue jeans and grew enormously…
Levi Strauss & Co. →
Active · founded 1890
Levi Strauss & Co., the world's largest brand-name apparel manufacturer, gave the world blue jeans and grew enormously…
Healthtex, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Healthtex, Inc., a division of the VF Corporation, is one of the leading manufacturers of children's playwear in the…
Healthtex, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Healthtex, Inc., a division of the VF Corporation, is one of the leading manufacturers of children's playwear in the…
Haggar Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
When it comes to casually dressy clothing for men, few companies are in the same league as Haggar Corporation.
Haggar Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
When it comes to casually dressy clothing for men, few companies are in the same league as Haggar Corporation.
Algo Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1942 · Canada
Founded in 1942 as a small dress manufacturer, Algo Group Inc.
Algo Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1942 · Canada
Founded in 1942 as a small dress manufacturer, Algo Group Inc.
Farah Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
Farah Incorporated is a leading manufacturer and marketer of medium-priced men's and boys' apparel, with a particular…
Farah Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
Farah Incorporated is a leading manufacturer and marketer of medium-priced men's and boys' apparel, with a particular…
Kellwood Company →
Active · founded 1961 · United States
Kellwood Company is a leading international private label and brand label manufacturer, marketer, and merchandiser of…
Kellwood Company →
Active · founded 1961 · United States
Kellwood Company is a leading international private label and brand label manufacturer, marketer, and merchandiser of…
Bugle Boy Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1977
Bugle Boy Industries, Inc.
Bugle Boy Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1977
Bugle Boy Industries, Inc.
Jordache Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Jordache Enterprises, Inc.
Jordache Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Jordache Enterprises, Inc.
Ashworth, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Ashworth, Inc.
Ashworth, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Ashworth, Inc.
The Gitano Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
The Gitano Group, Inc., is one of the United States' largest apparel merchandisers.
The Gitano Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
The Gitano Group, Inc., is one of the United States' largest apparel merchandisers.
Build It Today

Starting a men's/boys' trousers & slacks company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.