COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 315234

Women's and Girls' Suit, Coat, Tailored Jacket, and Skirt Manufacturing

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

38companies1899–1996founding years38still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedVF Corporation
1899
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedHartmarx Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedSalvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedBrioni Roman Style S.p.A.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedChristian Dior S.A.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedEllen Tracy, Inc.
1949
FoundedKlaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedStefanel SpA
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCalvin Klein, Inc.
1967
FoundedBill Blass Ltd.
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedGiorgio Armani S.p.A.FoundedKasper A.S.L., Ltd.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedESCADA AG
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedDolce & Gabbana SpA
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHugo Boss AG
1985
FoundedEileen Fisher Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedGerry Weber International AG
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedTommy Hilfiger Corporation
1992
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.
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

VF Corporation →
Active · founded 1899
VF Corporation is one of the world's largest publicly owned fashion apparel manufacturers, designing and producing a…
VF Corporation →
Active · founded 1899
VF Corporation is one of the world's largest publicly owned fashion apparel manufacturers, designing and producing a…
Hartmarx Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Hartmarx Corporation is a holding company for a number of clothing companies, including its flagship brands of men's…
Hartmarx Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Hartmarx Corporation is a holding company for a number of clothing companies, including its flagship brands of men's…
Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1927 · Italy
Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A.
Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1927 · Italy
Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A.
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · Italy
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A.
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · Italy
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A.
Christian Dior S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · France
Christian Dior S.A.
Christian Dior S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · France
Christian Dior S.A.
Ellen Tracy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Ellen Tracy, Inc., which originally made blouses, is now a leading maker of bridge apparel--clothing that falls in…
Ellen Tracy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Ellen Tracy, Inc., which originally made blouses, is now a leading maker of bridge apparel--clothing that falls in…
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1958 · Germany
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co.
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1958 · Germany
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co.
Stefanel SpA →
Active · founded 1959 · Italy
1970s:Joined by son Guiseppe, Stefanel begins designing and selling clothing under the Stefanel brand directly to…
Stefanel SpA →
Active · founded 1959 · Italy
1970s:Joined by son Guiseppe, Stefanel begins designing and selling clothing under the Stefanel brand directly to…
Calvin Klein, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Calvin Klein, Inc., designs, licenses, and, in some cases, produces clothing, accessories, fragrances, and home…
Calvin Klein, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Calvin Klein, Inc., designs, licenses, and, in some cases, produces clothing, accessories, fragrances, and home…
Bill Blass Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968
Bill Blass Ltd.
Bill Blass Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968
Bill Blass Ltd.
Giorgio Armani S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1975 · Italy
Giorgio Armani S.p.A.
Giorgio Armani S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1975 · Italy
Giorgio Armani S.p.A.
Kasper A.S.L., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1975
Kasper A.S.L., Ltd., the world's largest women's suit manufacturer, designs, markets, sources, manufactures, and…
Kasper A.S.L., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1975
Kasper A.S.L., Ltd., the world's largest women's suit manufacturer, designs, markets, sources, manufactures, and…
ESCADA AG →
Active · founded 1979 · Germany
ESCADA AG (Escada) is Germany's leading luxury fashion brand and a leading player in the global luxury clothing market.
ESCADA AG →
Active · founded 1979 · Germany
ESCADA AG (Escada) is Germany's leading luxury fashion brand and a leading player in the global luxury clothing market.
Dolce & Gabbana SpA →
Active · founded 1982 · Italy
Dolce & Gabbana SpA cuts an independent swath in the international fashion scene.
Dolce & Gabbana SpA →
Active · founded 1982 · Italy
Dolce & Gabbana SpA cuts an independent swath in the international fashion scene.
Hugo Boss AG →
Active · founded 1985 · Germany
Hugo Boss AG is Germany's largest manufacturer of men's and women's clothing and one of the world's leading design…
Hugo Boss AG →
Active · founded 1985 · Germany
Hugo Boss AG is Germany's largest manufacturer of men's and women's clothing and one of the world's leading design…
Eileen Fisher Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Eileen Fisher Inc.
Eileen Fisher Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Eileen Fisher Inc.
Gerry Weber International AG →
Active · founded 1989 · Germany
The union of tennis and fashion propelled Gerry Weber International AG into its position as one of Europe's leading…
Gerry Weber International AG →
Active · founded 1989 · Germany
The union of tennis and fashion propelled Gerry Weber International AG into its position as one of Europe's leading…
Tommy Hilfiger Corporation →
Active · founded 1992 · Hong Kong
Tommy Hilfiger Corporation markets menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear designed by Tommy Hilfiger.
Tommy Hilfiger Corporation →
Active · founded 1992 · Hong Kong
Tommy Hilfiger Corporation markets menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear designed by Tommy Hilfiger.
Prada Holding B.V. →
Active · founded 1996 · The Netherlands
Prada Holding B.V.
Prada Holding B.V. →
Active · founded 1996 · The Netherlands
Prada Holding B.V.
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