Haggar® is a Dallas-based menswear brand sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Founding and History
Joseph Marion (J.M.) Haggar founded the Haggar Company in Dallas, Texas in 1926. He personally purchased all materials, supervised production, and handled all sales from a one-room office in the Santa Fe Building. By 1929, Haggar occupied two floors of the building with 250 employees and over the next few years grew to 500 employees, with production of 75,000 pairs of pants annually.
In 1933, Haggar upgraded its manufacturing methods to mirror Henry Ford's Straight Line Production model of automobile manufacturing. Operators began pants production on a single unit rather than bundles; these units were then passed along by the conveyor to the next operator. Due to the revision of the process, manufacturing costs decreased while productivity increased.
Haggar officially became a national company in 1938, employing a nationwide sales organization and running its first national advertising campaign.
In 1940, Haggar created the first pre-cuffed pant. The sale of the design led to more growth that allowed the company to move to a new headquarters, including a modern sewing production plant, on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas.
During World War II, J.M. Haggar kept factories running 24 hours a day to continuously supply clothing for the U.S. military. By the end of the war, more than 10 million garments had been produced in Haggar factories, and by the end of the decade, Haggar had become the largest producer and marketer of slacks in the world.
In 1950, Haggar became the first men's apparel brand to advertise on national television with an ad airing on the Today Show.
By 1971, Haggar had been declared the number one pant brand in the United States and began manufacturing sport coats, vests, and Haggar "Custom Fit" suits, which allowed customers to purchase jackets and pants separately, thus creating a new menswear category: suit separates.
Haggar's innovations reached beyond apparel with their creation of the "Haggar Hanger" in 1971, which for the first time allowed retailers to sell pants on hanging fixtures instead of flat folded on tables. In the 1980s, Haggar became the first in the apparel industry to adopt EDI quick-response inventory replenishment, and to use UPC codes to ticket merchandise. In 1987, Haggar invented and received a patent for the "Size Strip" sticker, which is used by almost all pant brands today to identify size and fit on folded bottoms programs.
Haggar introduced 100% cotton "wrinkle-free" pants to the market in 1990 and followed with the introduction of moisture-wicking fabrics and pants with a self-adjusting waist.
In addition to its Haggar brand, the company has developed and launched the sustainable LK Life Khaki brand. Both LK Life Khaki and Haggar's e-Clo Dress Pants use Repreve, a polyester fiber made by Unifi of recycled water bottles. Since Haggar began using Repreve in 2009, the company has documented the upcycling of over 80 million water bottles, making Haggar one of the first major men's apparel manufactures to produce apparel designed to reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
Haggar Clothing Co. today holds the #1 market position in men's dress pants in the United States, as well as the #2 share in men's casual pants.
Haggar now produces also women collection clothing too and has over 80 store locations.
Haggar Clothing Co. also manufactures, markets and distributes Kenneth Cole brand men's and women's apparel through its subsidiary, Haggar Canada Co.
Kenneth Cole lines manufactured by Haggar Canada Co. include:
- Kenneth Cole Black Label
- Kenneth Cole New York
- Reaction Kenneth Cole
- Unlisted, a Kenneth Cole Production
Maps Haggar Clothing
Haggar and Professional Sports
In 1952, Mickey Mantle was featured in the introduction of Haggar "Forever Prest" pants.
Other Athletes and Sports Celebrities that have endorsed or appeared in Haggar advertising include:
MLB PLAYERS: Roger Maris, Phil Rizzuto, Nellie Fox, Eddie Mathews, Robin Roberts
NFL PLAYERS: Frank Gifford, Pat Summerall, Doak Walker, Otto Graham, Bobby Lane, Cloyse Box, Don Meredith, Roger Staubach, Len Dawson, Rocky Bleier, Gale Sayers
PGA GOLFERS: Arnold Palmer, Dow Finsterwald, Doug Ford, Art Wall Jr., Bobby Nichol
FORMULA 500 RACING: David Hobbs, Carl Hogan
Haggar is the...
"Official Provider of the Gold Jacket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees since 1978"
"Official Clothing Partner and Provider of the Hockey Hall of Fame Jacket"
"Official Provider of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Jacket"
"Official Provider of the Alumni Jacket to the NFL Alumni Association"
Popular culture
In the Simpsons episode "The Last Temptation of Krust", Krusty the Clown makes reference to stealing a pair of Haggar slacks.
Jimmy Connors once offered a pair of Haggars as a peace offering to his disgruntled opponent, Rod Laver.
In 1971, a young John Travolta appeared in a national television commercial for Haggar Slacks.
On August 9, 1964, United States President Lyndon Johnson personally placed an order over the phone, with Joe Haggar, Jr. for six pairs of Haggar slacks from the Oval Office. Johnson stated that Haggar pants were "the best [he'd] had anywhere in the United States." The President preferred the Dallas manufacturer's slacks because they provided more room. Other manufacturer's slacks "cut him" and wearing their pants was like "riding a wire fence." Johnson went on to order a summer shirt of the same material.
In the second season of Frisky Dingo (2006-2008) Haggar pants as well as their 'patented suit up system' are often mentioned as being top quality.
References
External links
- Haggar Clothing Company official site
Source of article : Wikipedia
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