Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, LLC history

In 1920, while the partners were still distributing hats, C.D. Williamson, more often known as "Don," and brother to C.N. Williamson, began to work for a Fort Worth clothing manufacturer by the name of United States Overall Company.

DICKIES WORKWEAR SINCE 1922 FORT WORTH TEXAS United StatesA.

The company slowly expanded over the next 20 years, despite the Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed, their growth continued up until the Second World War.

In the late 1950's, Williamson-Dickie became an international company by expanding into the European market and the Middle Eastern market - where Texas oilmen introduced the Dickies brand to Middle Eastern oil fields.

In 1960 Dickies built a manufacturing plant in Belize formerly “British Honduras” but sadly the entire plant was destroyed during hurricane Hattie.

By April 1977 Dickies owned almost 30 percent, later to become 58% in the same year of what would later become ‘Blessings’ the Company although a majority owned by Dickies remained a separate company.

Williamson, C. Dickie, Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, Newcomen Society: New York, 1985.

In 1998, the company sold its majority share of Blessings Corporation, and the following year made an acquisition that better aligned with its core business: Workrite Uniform Co.

1999: The company acquires Workrite Uniform Co.

The partnership, formed in June 2000, provided for Dickies uniforms to be sold through the retailer’s popular catalog and online store.

In 2001, it awarded its largest licensing program ever, with apparel maker Dino di Milano.

When Junya Watanabe set out to highlight eight iconic American brands in his 2006 Spring-Summer show, Dickies made the cut, along with other enduring brands like Levis and Converse.

As of 2007 Forbes reported that the company has an estimated revenue of $1.15 billion; 4,160 members of staff and are currently ranked number 402 in America’s largest private companies.

In 2008, Dickies was purchased by international retail conglomerate VF, and now the brand is available in over 100 countries.