Gossard Limited

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Gossard Limited
FormerlyH. W. Gossard Co.
Industryclothing manufacturer
Founded1901
FounderHenry Williamson Gossard
HeadquartersNottingham
Key people
R. C. Stirton
Productswomen's undergarments
hosiery
Websitewww.gossard.com

Gossard Limited is a Nottingham-based producer of women's undergarments and hosiery.[1] Founded in the early 20th century in Chicago as H. W. Gossard Co., it expanded quickly, flourishing in the 1920s. As Associated Apparel Industries, Inc. it held a central position in its market in the 1930s. Amalgamated eventually succumbed to the poor economy in the United States during the Great Depression,[2][3] but Gossard continues as a division of Courtaulds in Great Britain.[1]

History[]

Gossard was established as H. W. Gossard Co. in Chicago in 1901, per company history after its founder Henry Williamson Gossard was inspired by a corset worn at a Paris performance by the actress Sarah Bernhardt.[1] In the 1920s it introduced the then-revolutionary idea of putting corset ties on the front, allowing the wearer to untie them herself. The company advertised extensively under the slogan "The Gossard Line of Beauty."[1]

In 1928 the company was reorganized as a division of Associated Apparel Industries, Inc.[4] The manufacturer became a conglomerate[5] after acquiring Venus Company and Lamode Garment Company, adding $3,000,000 in annual revenue.[6][7] Associated Apparel, Inc., planned to build a plant in Germany, and its president, R. C. Stirton, sailed for Europe in May 1929 to facilitate this.[8]

Stockholders of Nature's Rival Company, a firm previously acquired by Associated Apparel, Inc., brought a bankruptcy petition against Amalgamated in September 1933.[9] The suit was filed in the United States District Court in Chicago. It asked for a sum of $1,232,500.[3]

After the bankruptcy, the company reformed as H. W. Gossard but became a British company.[1] It continued to manufacture women's underwear and hosiery, and R. C. Stirton continued as its president until his death in 1945.[10]

Gossard was acquired by Courtaulds in 1959.[11] At some point it became a property of the French DBApparel, but was re-acquired by Courtalds in 2007.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Our Heritage". H. W. Gossard Co. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "EXCHANGE MOVES TO SUSPEND STOCK; Associated Apparel Industries to Be Dropped From List for Failure to Report. TO REMOVE RAIL ISSUE Mexican Northern Not Traded for Five Years -- Other Changes Announced". The New York Times. 13 July 1934.
  3. ^ a b Associated Apparel, Wall Street Journal, September 16, 1933, pg. 5.
  4. ^ "H.W. GOSSARD REORGANIZED; Company Becomes Associated Apparel Industries--New Capitalization". The New York Times. 30 August 1928.
  5. ^ Farrell-Beck, Jane; Gau, Colleen (22 October 2002). Uplift: The Bra in America. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 52. ISBN 0812218353 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Associated Apparel Industries, The Wall Street Journal, November 24, 1928, pg. 2.
  7. ^ "CHICAGO STOCKS SOAR IN BIG DAY; BORG PAYS MORE". Chicago Tribune. November 24, 1928.
  8. ^ Associated Apparel Industries, Wall Street Journal, April 18, 1929, pg. 6.
  9. ^ "Hear Associated Apparel Bankruptcy Plea". Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1933.
  10. ^ "A.J. Trojan Promoted". The New York Times. 21 August 1945.
  11. ^ "Courtalds". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "DB Apparel sells lingerie labels to Courtaulds". Drapers. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
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