Holeproof Hosiery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textile manufacturing |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Fate | Acquired by Julius Kayser & Company in 1955 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States |
Key people | Edward Freshl (initial president) |
| Products | Hosiery, underwear, lingerie, men's sleepwear |
Holeproof Hosiery was a textile manufacturer located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, established in 1901. The firm expanded mainly by reinvesting its profits and allocated over $500,000 to advertising efforts after its founding, which helped it develop an internationally recognized brand. Its product range included hosiery for both men and women, underwear, lingerie, as well as men's sleepwear. Between 1916 and 1925, sales increased significantly from $2,037,000 to $9,220,000. By 1954, net sales had climbed to $24,435,342.
Company chronology
The initial president of the company was Edward Freshl.
In October 1928, Holeproof became involved in a patent infringement case initiated by Gotham Hosiery, which owned the Pointex patents related to pointed heel hosiery after acquiring Onyx Hosiery.
Beginning in January 1940, Holeproof started manufacturing nylon hosiery on eight of its 230 machines. These nylons were made from synthetic fibers produced by Du Pont, derived from coal and iron chemicals. To stay competitive, in December 1956 Holeproof implemented price reductions on nylon products by as much as 15%.
In August 1955, the company was purchased by Julius Kayser & Company for $13 million and was integrated as one of its divisions. Over the five-year period ending June 30, 1960, Kayser-Roth absorbed Holeproof's fixed assets. Kayser-Roth specialized in producing ladies' gloves, lingerie, and hosiery.
Australia
During the late 1920s, Australian hosiery producer Staley & Staley Ltd secured a license for the Holeproof brand from Milwaukee. The company went public in 1929 and launched Australia's first Holeproof manufacturing facility in Brunswick, Victoria in 1930, introducing locally made self-supporting socks. Throughout the 1930s, Holeproof marketed its products in Australia as stylish fashion accessories.
In 1969, Holeproof was acquired by Pacific Dunlop, which subsequently became part of Pacific Brands as its division focused on consumer goods. In 2016, following Pacific Brands' sale, Hanes Australasia took ownership of the brand.