Fruit of the Loom history

Polish immigrant Jacob Goldfarb began his clothing business in 1926 with the goal of producing low priced, quality undergarments—most notably, the popular one-piece men's underwear known as the "unionsuit." Appropriately, Goldfarb called his business The Union Underwear Company.

In 1928, Fruit of the Loom started licensing their brand to manufacturers of finished clothing lines.

In 1930, Goldfarb was approached by promoters who were looking for an industry that would create jobs and increase the tax base for the city of Frankfort, Kentucky during the ongoing depression.

Goldfarb purchased a 25-year license for Fruit of the Loom in 1938 as part of his efforts to become a national marketer.

In 1952 Gold-farb opened a Union Underwear plant in Campbellsville, Kentucky, that stood in marked contrast to his earliest approach to manufacturing.

In order to assure the availability of its well-known trademark, Philadelphia & Reading acquired the Fruit of the Loom Licensing Company in 1961.

The company contracted Howard Cosell, a well-known sportscaster, to appear in a series of five television commercials over the course of three years beginning in 1968.

In 1969 the company contracted sportscaster Howard Cosell to appear in five television commercials over three years.

In 1975, Union made advertising history with the first "Fruit of the Loom Guys" campaign.

The company also began expanding its product line in 1978 to include decorated underwear for boys and girls known as “Underoos.

In an effort to promote its move from department stores to discount merchandisers, Hanes introduced "Inspector 12" into its advertising campaigns in 1982.

Clothes intended for children are fully safe and meet the requirements of the European Union. - BIELIZNA MENSKA - 8 unique styles - 8 juicy coloursFruit of the Loom has many years of experience in the production of men's underwear, dating back to 1983.

The company launched that division in 1984 and led the category with a ten percent share within four years.

Farley and Chief Executive Holland decided to expand into men's fashion underwear, women's underwear, and socks over the course of the decade, putting the Fruit of the Loom label on sportswear in 1987.

The brand extensions, expanded capacity, advertising blitz and years of debt paid off in 1988 when Fruit of the Loom made its first profit since its acquisition by Farley.

Interest expenses also consumed ten percent of annual sales revenues in 1989.

Fruit of the Loom’s European sales surged 43 percent in 1990 as these divisions hit stride.

In 1991, Fruit of the Loom introduced the "It's your time," campaign for its growing line of casualwear, which was extended to include garments for infants and toddlers.

Farley and Holland predicted that Fruit of the Loom would invest $125 million in new equipment and increase the workforce by 3,000 at plants in the United States, Canada, and Europe in 1992.

In 1993 Fruit of the Loom struck a deal with Wilson Sporting Goods to manufacture and sell Wilson athletic wear in the United States.

Also in 1994 it bought the bankrupt sportswear maker Gitano Group, Inc., for $100 million.

By 1995, only 25 percent of the company's revenues derived from sales of men's and boys' underwear.

In 1996, Fruit of the Loom was the fourth largest United States apparel company and the fourth largest licensed apparel maker.

hunt, nigel. "fruit of the loom cuts about 3,000 us sewing jobs." reuters business report, 11 november 1997.

First quarter profits were up 38 percent, and a price increase in men's underwear in April 1998 indicated potentially higher margins in a traditionally low-margin area for Fruit of the Loom.

In 1999, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after posting a loss of $576.2 million.

The company was purchased for roughly $835 million in a deal that was closed on April 29, 2002.