Kayser-Roth
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Julius Kayser & Co., Chester H. Roth Company |
| Founded | Early 1900s (as Julius Kayser & Co.) |
| Headquarters | Greensboro, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Alfred P. Slaner (first head of merged entity) |
| Products | Underwear, hosiery, bras, panties, sleepwear, socks, foot comfort products |
| Parent | Golden Lady (since 1999) |
Kayser-Roth Corporation is a manufacturer specializing in underwear and hosiery, with its headquarters located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company operates as a subsidiary and promotes three main brands across North America: Burlington, Hue, and No Nonsense.
History
The origins of the company trace back to Julius Kayser & Co., established by Julius Kayser in the early 1900s, producing items such as hosiery, lingerie, and gloves. In 1958, the firm expanded by acquiring the Chester H. Roth Company, resulting in the formation of Kayser-Roth. Alfred P. Slaner, the inaugural head of this merged entity, introduced Supp-Hose hosiery.
In 1962, Kayser-Roth added Interwoven hosiery company to its portfolio, retaining the Interwoven brand until it combined with Esquire in 1971 to create Interwoven-Esquire.
Although a 1968 merger with Penn Central Transportation Company was considered but ultimately not pursued, that same year Kayser-Roth merged with Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co., thereby gaining ownership of the Bostonian shoe brand.
To rival L'eggs (currently under HanesBrands), Kayser-Roth launched No Nonsense in 1973, becoming a pioneer in selling hosiery through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores. Two years later, in 1975, Gulf+Western Industries acquired Kayser-Roth.
During Gulf+Western’s ownership, manufacturing operations in Canadian provinces such as Ontario and Quebec saw significant enhancements. The company also diversified into automotive parts production, supplying components for numerous GM vehicles throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1984, Kayser-Roth expanded by purchasing Calvin Klein's women's underwear division along with licensing rights to use the designer's name. Beginning in 1985, Gulf+Western started divesting its non-entertainment businesses and sold Kayser-Roth to the Wickes Companies.
In 1993, Grupo Synkro, a hosiery manufacturer based in Mexico, acquired Kayser-Roth for approximately $230 million. Later in 1999, Golden Lady—an Italian hosiery leader—bought the company from Grupo Synkro and undertook organizational restructuring. Throughout the 2000s, No Nonsense broadened its offerings to include bras, panties, sleepwear, socks for both women and men, as well as foot comfort products.
By April 2011, Kayser-Roth secured exclusive distribution rights for socks and hosiery on behalf of Jockey International.
As of June 2020, products from Kayser-Roth have appeared on television programs including Gossip Girl and The View.