Gold Toe Brands
Socks company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gold Toe Brands, Inc., is the third-largest United States–based producer of socks.[1]
- Fritz S. Stern
- Fritz Bendheim
- J. Kuglemanin
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing manufacturer |
| Founded | September 18, 1919 in Bally, Pennsylvania, as Great American Knitting Mills |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Products | Socks |
| Parent | Gildan |
| Website | www.goldtoe.com |
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.
