Bonds (clothing)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel manufacturing |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | George Allan Bond |
| Headquarters | Kew, Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Underwear, socks, sleepwear, casual lightweight clothing |
| Owner | Hanesbrands |
Pacific Brands Underwear Group, best known for its principal label Bonds, is an Australian manufacturer specializing in underwear and apparel, currently owned by Hanesbrands. The company’s headquarters are located at 115 Cotham Rd, Kew, Melbourne. It imports and retails underwear, socks, sleepwear, and casual lightweight clothing for men, women, and children.
History
The origins of the company trace back to 1915 when George A. Bond & Co. Limited was established by George Allan Bond, an American immigrant who initially imported women's hosiery and gloves before starting local hosiery production in Redfern, Sydney, in 1917. By 1918, the enterprise expanded its range to include underwear manufacturing at Camperdown.
In 1923, Bond set up a cotton-spinning facility at Wentworthville in western Sydney, installing imported machinery costing £150,000. This district was later renamed Pendle Hill as a tribute to Bond’s Scottish roots. The development of a railway station and suburb around the mill supported its operations.
Following liquidation in 1927, Bonds Industries Limited was created as a publicly listed company. The business merged with Coats Paton Pty Ltd in 1970, was acquired by Pacific Dunlop (which became Ansell) in 1987, and subsequently sold in 2001 to establish Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd. That same year saw the closure of the spinning mill. Pacific Brands Limited went public on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and New Zealand Exchange (NZX) in 2004.
By 2006, Bonds produced approximately 40% of its products within Australia at manufacturing sites located in Cessnock, Unanderra, and Wentworthville. Nevertheless, by September 2010, Pacific Brands ended local manufacturing operations after eliminating 1,850 positions as part of cost-cutting measures. Former employees later revived Australian production by founding Tuffys & Tuffetts underwear using Bonds’ previous machinery and rehiring some of the staff.
On 28 April 2016, Pacific Brands consented to a complete takeover by Hanesbrands, officially becoming a wholly owned subsidiary on 15 July 2016.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Clothing companies established in 1915
- Australian companies established in 1915
- Clothing brands of Australia
- Underwear brands
- Manufacturing companies based in Sydney
- Socks
- Hosiery brands
- Lingerie retailers
- Cotton industry in Australia
- Australian fashion
- Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies