 | This article contains promotional content. (January 2016) |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing manufacturer |
| Founded | September 18, 1919 (1919-09-18) in Bally, Pennsylvania as Great American Knitting Mills |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Products | Socks |
| Parent | Gildan |
| Website | www.goldtoe.com |
Gold Toe Brands, Inc., is the third-largest United States–based producer of socks.[1]
History
Gold Toe was founded by Fritz S. Stern, Fritz Bendheim, and J. Kuglemanin in Bally, Pennsylvania, on September 18, 1919, under the name Great American Knitting Mills.[2] In 1923, Rudolf Abrams, a cousin of Fritz Stern's wife, joined the company.[3]
During the Great Depression, Gold Toe began manufacturing men's socks from high-quality Irish linen, making them resistant to holes and fraying.[1] In the 1930s, the company introduced gold acetate thread in the toes of its socks to make them visually distinctive on store shelves.[1]
In 2002, the manufacturer changed its name to Gold Toe Brands Inc.[2]
Gold Toe merged with competitor Moretz in 2006 to form Gold Toe Moretz. In 2011, Gildan acquired the company. The following year, they partnered with the advertising agency, DeVito/Verdi, to “revitalize and contemporize” the brand.
Operations
The company's headquarters are in Burlington, North Carolina, with executive headquarters in New York City.[2] Gold Toe Brands, Inc. has shifted much of its manufacturing to China, particularly the Zhejiang province.[4]
Vice-President Trish McHale aimed to create affordable socks primarily for men.[5][6][4] Although its primary market is men's dress socks, Gold Toe Brands has expanded into other areas of the sock market.[2] In 1983, it added a line of women's socks; in 1986, it began producing boys' socks. In 1992, the brand started making women's tights.[2]
Gold Toe produces 140 million pairs of socks annually[1] and is on the American Podiatric Medical Association's approved list of brands for foot health.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Andresen, Katya (April 28, 2006). Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes. Wiley. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-0-7879-8148-8. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Goldtoe's History". Gold Toe Brands. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
- ^ 75th anniversary Collection of Memories, Great American Knitting Mills
- ^ a b Ted C. Fishman (2005). China, Inc: how the rise of the next superpower challenges America and the world. Simon and Schuster. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-7432-5752-7. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ Givhan, Robin (2006-07-24). "Blue-Chip Socks: Haute Hose by Vivek Nagrani, Just the Thing to Cool Your Heels". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ Harvard Medical School (2005). Foot Care Basics: Preventing and Treating Common Foot Conditions (Second ed.). Harvard Health Publications. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-933225-76-0. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
External links
- Official website
