Berlei
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Lingerie, Clothing |
| Founded | 1910 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Frederick Richard Burley |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand |
| Products | Bras, Girdles, Lingerie |
| Owner | Hanesbrands (Australia), Courtaulds Textiles (UK) |
Berlei is a women's lingerie label that focuses on producing bras and girdles.
History
The Berlei brand was created in Sydney in 1910 and officially launched in 1917. Presently, Berlei lingerie is distributed in Australia by Hanesbrands and in the United Kingdom by Courtaulds Textiles.
Berlei was a pioneer in researching Australian body shapes to enhance the fit of its products. The brand name originates from its founder Frederick Richard Burley, who modified the spelling of his surname to create the brand identity.
Berlei Limited was one of the earliest Australian businesses to establish an international presence, setting up Berlei (New Zealand) Limited in 1923 and Berlei (U.K.) Limited in 1930.
Founder
Frederick R. Burley (1885–1954), who founded Berlei, was recognized for his progressive approach to employee relations and active community involvement, including prominent roles within the Rotary Club. In 1923, he initiated and served as the first president of the Australia Made Preference League, which supported Australian manufacturing through projects such as the Great White Train.
Burley undertook extensive travels to forge business alliances and procure materials for Berlei’s production facilities. His entrepreneurial efforts and the company’s formative period were portrayed in the film Undercover.
History of Berlei Limited and associated companies
Berlei Limited originated in 1910 as Unique Corsets in Sydney, founded by Fred Burley who recognized the lucrative potential of corsetry and opportunities to replace imports. In 1913, Burley visited the United States to study manufacturing techniques and machinery. The brand name Berlei was registered in Australia in 1917, evolving from the initial company name which was changed to Berlei Limited by 1920.
The original manufacturing plant was located on Wilmot Street, Sydney, later expanding into Liverpool Street before moving to a custom-built facility known as the Berlei House on Regent Street in January 1922. Burley’s strategy centered on designing and producing corsets and bras with exceptional fit, craftsmanship, and quality to secure customer loyalty and business success.
From early on, Berlei implemented a sophisticated marketing approach that contributed significantly to its expansion and brand prominence.
Berlei (NZ) Limited
Established in 1923, Berlei (New Zealand) Limited grew from a workforce of 50 to 665 employees by 1961. In 1981, Bendon Berlei Limited merged with Ceramco Apparel Group Limited, representing an important corporate merger.
Berlei (UK) Limited
The UK division commenced operations in 1930 with forty employees, expanding to 702 by 1961. A modern factory was built in Slough in 1937 but was demolished in 1984.
In 1982, ownership of Berlei (UK) transferred from Berlei Hestia of Australia. Due to financial challenges, the company entered receivership in November 1985 before being acquired by Courtaulds Textiles.
Courtaulds Textiles was sold to Sara Lee in March 2000, then subsequently sold again to Hong Kong–based PD Enterprise Limited in May 2006.