Gossard Limited

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]

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References
  1. "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. 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 – 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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