Hardwick Clothes facts for kids
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| Privately Held Company | |
| Industry | Clothing Manufacturer |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Tennessee |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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Allan Jones (Owner/Chairman) Bruce Bellusci (CEO/President) |
Hardwick Clothes is an American company that makes special suits for men and women. It's located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The company started on July 28, 1880. This makes Hardwick Clothes the oldest company in America that makes tailored clothing. It's also the second-oldest company in Bradley County, Tennessee.
Contents
The Story of Hardwick Clothes
Hardwick Clothes is the oldest company in the United States that makes custom-fit clothing. It began in 1880 as Cleveland Woolen Mills. It was founded in Cleveland, Tennessee, by C. L. Hardwick and a few other people. Mr. Hardwick put his son George in charge of the clothing part of the business.
In the early days, the company did very well by weaving "jean cloth." This was a mix of wool and cotton. They used it to make popular pants called "Dollar Pants."
Growing and Changing Names
Over time, the company added new machines. Cleveland Woolen Mills became a place where clothes were made, not just fabric. In 1925, its name changed to Hardwick Woolen Mills.
By the 1920s, the company did everything in one factory. They spun the wool yarn and then made it into finished clothes. Their motto was: "From the sheep's back to the clothing rack." They made many items, including men's suits, overcoats, and clothes for boys.
Surviving Tough Times
Hardwick Mills managed to survive the Great Depression. This was a time when the economy was very bad. Many workers sewed clothes from their homes. Even with the tough economy, Hardwick Mills kept growing in the 1930s. Later, new laws changed how long people could work. So, production moved back into the factory.
For the first half of the 1900s, Hardwick Mills was one of the biggest makers of wool fabric and men's clothing in the world. During World War II, the company made uniforms for the military. After the war, people wanted less wool. New man-made fabrics became popular instead.
New Focus and Advertising
In the 1950s, Hardwick Mills stopped making wool fabric. They decided to focus only on men's tailored clothing. At this time, the company changed its name again to Hardwick Clothes, Inc. For the first time, they also started to advertise their own brand. Hardwick quickly became a leader in making blazers. They had one of the biggest selections of blazers ready to buy.
In 1974, Hardwick Clothes moved to a new, modern factory. This new building allowed them to use updated machines. This helped them stay competitive against companies making clothes in other countries.
In the 2000s, Hardwick started selling to more stores. They also got contracts to make clothes for groups like the U.S. military. They even made uniforms for Major League Baseball umpires!
In 2001, the old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building.
Recent Years
In 2013, Hardwick Clothes faced some financial challenges. This was because of a struggling economy. The company had to file for bankruptcy protection. This is a legal step that helps a company deal with its debts.
A New Owner
In March 2014, a businessman from Cleveland named W. Allan Jones offered to buy the company. The sale was completed in June 2014. Mr. Jones owns several other companies.
After buying the company, Mr. Jones said that Hardwick Clothes had survived many challenges. These included two big fires, two World Wars, and the Great Depression. He also joked about having to watch other countries make uniforms for the Olympic team. Mr. Jones also launched a new website for the company.
New Leadership and Technology
In July 2014, Bruce Bellusci became the new CEO and President. He was the ninth person to hold this top job at Hardwick Clothes. Mr. Bellusci had worked at another clothing company for many years. He brought in new people to help the company, including a Chief Creative Officer. The company also announced they would fly an old 38-star American flag from 1880 at their factory. This was the year the company started.
In 2015, Mr. Jones said he would buy new German and Italian machines. He wanted to make Hardwick the most modern sewing factory in the United States. This would help the workers make clothes even better and faster.
On December 15, 2019, a company called Puerto Rican Industries for the Blind bought Hardwick Clothes.
See also
- Hartmarx
- Oxxford Clothes
- Paul Stuart
- Hickey Freeman
- Brooks Brothers
- J. Press
