Southpole (clothing)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing, fashion |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | David Khym, Kenny Khym |
| Headquarters | Fort Lee, New Jersey (official); New York City (operational) , United States |
Area served | United States, online platforms |
| Products | Jeans, shorts, shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, joggers, jackets, footwear, accessories |
| Website | www |
Southpole is a United States-based company specializing in wholesale clothing and fashion, functioning as a designer, distributor, licensor, and marketer. Headquartered operationally in New York City, the firm is officially located in Fort Lee. Established in 1991 by Korean American siblings David Khym and Kenny Khym under the corporate name Wicked Fashions Inc., its showroom is situated on Fashion Avenue in Manhattan.
History
David and Kenny Khym emigrated from Incheon, South Korea in 1977. In 1981, David launched a retail apparel store in Brooklyn, utilizing $10,000 of personal savings alongside a $5,000 credit facility; Kenny joined the venture shortly thereafter. Due to increasing rental costs, they moved their business to Jamaica, Queens in 1989.
Encountering difficulties sourcing baggy urban-style clothing at their Jamaica location, they established the wholesale enterprise Wicked Fashions in 1991 to import garments from Pakistan. The name Southpole was inspired by a Korean expedition team that reached the South Pole, as chosen by David Khym. The brand expanded its market presence by providing styles comparable to well-known urban labels such as FUBU, but at more affordable price points.
In 1996, Kenny initiated Against All Odds, a retail chain targeting mall shoppers with urban streetwear collections.
Today, Southpole procures merchandise from factories located in Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, India, and Vietnam. Its distribution network includes national outlets and online platforms like Amazon, Eastbay, Foot Locker, J.C. Penney, Sears, Dr. Jays, and Burlington Coat Factory. By 2005, the company reported sales exceeding $350 million.
Products
Southpole’s offerings encompass jeans, shorts, shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, joggers, jackets, footwear, and accessories. The sizing range extends from “big and tall” to youth sizes labeled “boys.”
Company’s Brand Labels
The Lot29® label was introduced in 2002 and features licensed characters such as those from Looney Tunes. In 2008, Southpole unveiled two additional brands: White Tag® and A. Prodigee®. The SP Active® line debuted in Spring 2014 with a focus on casual activewear including fleece joggers and basketball shorts. February 2016 marked the launch of the Southpole Antarctic Expedition® Outerwear Collection.
Awards and records
Southpole earned the J.C. Penney Divisional Award for Men's Apparel in 2002 and repeated this recognition for Women's Apparel in 2003 following the introduction of its junior line. By 2010, according to data from the NPD Group, it ranked as the fifth-largest denim brand within the U.S., following Levi's, Wrangler, Lee, and Calvin Klein.