COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5137

Women's/Children's Clothing, Wholesale

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

24companies1897–1993founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedSwank Inc.FoundedSwank Inc.
1897
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.
FoundedPhillips-Van Heusen Corporation
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
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.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
FoundedJay Jacobs, Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedMarisa Christina, Inc.FoundedMarisa Christina, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedG-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
1974
FoundedCygne Designs, Inc.FoundedCygne Designs, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedL.A. T Sportswear, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedDesigner Holdings Ltd.FoundedDesigner Holdings Ltd.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThe Hartstone Group plc
1985
FoundedPluma, Inc.FoundedPluma, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedNorton McNaughton, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-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.
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

Swank Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Swank, Inc.
Swank Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Swank, Inc.
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) is a leading marketer of dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters, underwear and…
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) is a leading marketer of dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters, underwear and…
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Jay Jacobs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Jay Jacobs, Inc.
Jay Jacobs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Jay Jacobs, Inc.
Marisa Christina, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Marisa Christina, Inc.
Marisa Christina, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Marisa Christina, Inc.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1974
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1974
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
Cygne Designs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Cygne Designs, Inc.
Cygne Designs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Cygne Designs, Inc.
L.A. T Sportswear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
L.A.
L.A. T Sportswear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
L.A.
Designer Holdings Ltd. →
Active · founded 1984
Designer Holdings Ltd.
Designer Holdings Ltd. →
Active · founded 1984
Designer Holdings Ltd.
The Hartstone Group plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
The Hartstone Group plc is a leading manufacturer in the international leathergoods and hosiery markets, supplying…
The Hartstone Group plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
The Hartstone Group plc is a leading manufacturer in the international leathergoods and hosiery markets, supplying…
Pluma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Pluma, Inc.
Pluma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Pluma, Inc.
Norton McNaughton, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Norton McNaughton, Inc.
Norton McNaughton, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Norton McNaughton, Inc.
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