Jockey International, Inc.
TypePrivate company
IndustryTextile
PredecessorS.T. Cooper & Sons
Founded1876 (1876) (as Coopers Inc.)
St. Joseph, Michigan, U.S.
FounderSamuel T. Cooper
Headquarters
Kenosha, Wisconsin
,
U.S.
Number of locations
100 outlet stores
Key people
ProductsUnderwear and related products for men, women, boys, and girls
Production output
Central America, the Caribbean, United Kingdom, and the United States
RevenueUS$443.2 million[1]
Number of employees
5,400
WebsiteJockey
Footnotes / references
[2]

Jockey International, Inc. is an American manufacturer and retailer of underwear, sleepwear, and sportswear for men, women, and children. The company is based in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[3][4][5] Jockey invented the first men's Y-Front brief in 1934 and is a recognized trademark in 120 countries.

History

Jockey was originally named Coopers Inc., and was found by Samuel T. Cooper in St. Joseph, Michigan[6] in 1876 as a hosiery business. Cooper began the business after hearing that lumberjacks suffered from poorly constructed wool socks. In 1900, Cooper began making undergarments. By 1902 the business was expanding. However, by 1934 Coopers Inc. was nearly bankrupt due to the Great Depression. The company recruited Harry H. Wolf Sr., to restructure the company.

On January 19, 1935, during a blizzard, Coopers Inc. sold the world's first briefs at the Marshall Field's State Street store in downtown Chicago. Designed by so-called 'apparel engineer' Arthur Kneibler, briefs dispensed with leg sections and had a Y-shaped overlapping fly.[7] The company dubbed it the Jockey, claiming it offered support like a jockstrap. Over 30,000 pairs were sold within three months of their introduction. Coopers used a Mascul-liner plane to deliver masculine support briefs to retailers across the US. When they were introduced to the UK in 1938, they sold 3,000 a week.[7]

In 1958, the company introduced the first mass-sale men's bikini brief, known as 'Skants'. The low-cut nylon and elastic brief, inspired by women's bikinis, had no front fly and was unlined apart from a small support panel at the lower front. Skants sold well in the 1960's and into the 1970's especially in the US and the UK. Initially manufactured in white, blue and black, Skants were eventually produced in a wider variety of colours. They were popular with gay men at a time in which homosexuality was widely illegal. Skants were modified in the early 1970's to reduce the slightly raised join in the elastic on the hips (the new design was called 'Skants St Tropez'), but this brief was never popular because it lacked the support of the earlier design, and eventually succumbed to competition. Jockey still produces Skants, mostly cotton, for sale in several countries including South Africa and New Zealand.

Coopers renamed itself Jockey Menswear, Inc. in 1971, and Jockey International, Inc. the following year.[8] In 1997 Jockey acquired the seamless panties division of Formfit-Rogers, and sold them under the name Form-Fit (this branding was later discontinued).[9] In 1982, Jockey introduced the Jockey For Her line of intimate apparel and underwear.[10]

In August 2020, country singer Luke Bryan became a Jockey brand ambassador.[11]

In October 2020, Jockey International's Indian and its affiliate Page Industries were investigated by the US-based Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) over allegations of human rights violations in one of its factories.[12]

In December of 2020, Page Industries Ltd., the licensee of Jockey International in India, was recertified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) and found to be socially compliant. WRAP said human rights violations allegations were not substantiated by the findings of the audit. [13]

Divisions

In 2000, Jockey began selling products online.

Jockey manufactured Life and Formfit brands temporarily for Wal-Mart and Target. Jockey continues to manufacture the Life brand of men's underwear but discontinued the women's line in 2002. Jockey continues to manufacture both men's and women's lines for Target under the JKY brand.

In 2005, Jockey introduced its direct-selling division jockeyp2p.com.[14] The independent sales force, known as Comfort Specialist Consultants, sells products for women. Product lines include outerwear, sportswear, active wear, and accessories. Jockey International Chairman and CEO Debra S. Waller founded Jockey Person to Person.

In India, Page Industries Ltd. is the licensee for Jockey.

Philanthropy

Jockey sponsors the Jockey Being Family Foundation, a charity focused on supporting families after they have adopted a child. This increases awareness of and accessibility to post-adoption services in the United States for adoptive families.[15][16]

Models

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Financials Information for Jockey International, Inc". Jockey International, Inc. Revenue and Financial Data. Hoover's Inc. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "History of Jockey International, Inc". Company Histories. Funding Universe. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Terms and Conditions." Jockey International. Retrieved on July 28, 2013. "2300 60th Street Kenosha, Wisconsin 53141-1417"
  4. ↑ "Corporate Information Archived 2011-07-02 at the Wayback Machine." Jockey International. Retrieved on October 4, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Celebrate the 4th of July Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine." Jockey International. Retrieved on October 4, 2010. "Jockey International, Inc. - PO Box 1417 - 2300 60th Street - Kenosha, WI"
  6. ↑ Matuszak, John (2014-10-19). "Saving Stella". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  7. 1 2 Rushton, Susie (2008-01-22). "A brief history of pants: Why men's smalls have always been a subject of concern". The Independent (Extra). pp. 2–5. Archived from the original on 2022-06-09.
  8. ↑ "Our History".
  9. ↑ Jockey acquires Appel's Formfit seamless panties. (Jockey International Inc.; I. Appel Corp.)
  10. ↑ Belkin, Lisa (1986-08-24). "Lingerie's Great Leap Forward". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  11. ↑ "Jockey International Taps Luke Bryan As Brand Ambassador". wwd. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Jockey's India partner Page Industries faces probe by US watchdog over rights abuse allegations". New Indian Express. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Watchdog Re-Certifies Jockey's India Partner Page Industries' Unit as Socially Compliant".
  14. ↑ "Jockey p2p".
  15. ↑ "Jockey Being Family". Jockey Being Family.
  16. ↑ Doris Hajewski. "Family history motivates Jockey CEO to encourage adoption". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 14, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Recharge and reset in comfortable basics. Easy to layer while providing incredible softness".
  18. ↑ "What we look like enjoying the last bit of the weekend".
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Ho! Ho! Ho! Have you found who you are kissing under the mistletoe?".
  20. ↑ "@natdarcas in the Natural Beauty Seamfree Bralette and Hipster underwear that is so buttery soft you will never want to take it off!".
  21. ↑ "We're winter ready in our Jockey® Thermal T-Shirt and Jockey® Thermal Long John. Stay warm in these base layers, whether you're hitting the slopes or reading by the fireplace".
  22. ↑ "A Forever Fit bra is the perfect balance of coverage and comfort. Really, who says you can't have both?".
  23. ↑ "Stay active with comfortable solutions for workouts, hanging with friends and everything in-between".
  24. ↑ "Look no further for boxers that fit right. The Jockey® Everyday Woven Boxer is soft, 100% cotton fabric with a classic button fly. Plus, it's now available in a 2 pack".
  25. ↑ "Looking for soft and seamfree support? Our Jockey® Modern Micro Seamfree™ Padded Bralette gives both".
  26. ↑ "The Jockey® Cushion Wire Full Coverage Bra is designed for comfort and support".
  27. ↑ "Everything @msgigiparis wants for Christmas in one cute and cozy".
  28. ↑ "Base layers count as getting dressed, right?".
  29. ↑ "Enjoy a softer, more comfortable you in the Jockey® T-Shirt. The semi-fitted style makes it perfect for layering".
  30. ↑ "Sneak peak of fall florals coming soon!".
  31. ↑ "Girl put your records on".
  32. ↑ "C'mon in, the water's fine".
  33. ↑ "Welcome to Day 6 of our advent giveaway!".
  34. ↑ "@yatesy17 getting in his Wednesday workout in Microfiber Active. The best underwear for beating the heat".
  35. ↑ "Start your day comfortable in our elegant Parisienne Classic Camisole. It's soft, lightweight, and breathable".
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