Dickies is a brand of durable workwear for men and women, including trousers, shirts, jackets, coveralls, overalls, boots, vests, shorts, and sweatshirts. The company also offers school uniforms and clothing for the medical profession. Founded in 1918, it is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and is the largest manufacturer of workwear in the world. The company has expanded globally and sponsors events such as the Dickies 500 and Worker of the Year contest. Dickies has also gained popularity in the fashion industry and has been worn by celebrities.
Dickies is the trade name for a line of durable workwear for men and women that includes trousers, shirts, jackets, coveralls, overalls, boots, vests, shorts and sweatshirts. Dickies clothing is usually made from heavy, durable cotton, but in recent years the company has expanded, now offering school uniforms and a new line of clothing designed for the medical profession. The company, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is considered the largest manufacturer of workwear in the world.
In 1918, CN Williamson and EE “Colonel” Dickie became partners in the US Overall Company based in Bryan, Texas. In 1922, C. Don Williamson, son of CN, bought the company, which was renamed the Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company. Like many companies, Williamson-Dickie experienced a slowdown in business in the 1930s, but in the early 1940s it received a lucrative contract from the US government to produce uniforms for the army. This contract increased profits, and once the war was over, the company had the capital to expand the business and open additional manufacturing facilities.
By the 1950s, interest in Dickies clothing had begun to spread outside the United States. Middle Eastern oilmen noticed the durability of the suits worn by oilmen visiting from Texas, and overseas demand for Dickies created yet another expansion opportunity for the company. Today Williamson-Dickie operates in Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In the late 1950s, Dickies began operations in Europe.
While Williamson-Dickie is still primarily known for its workwear, Dickies found a whole new market when, in the late 1990s, skateboarders discovered the durability and comfort of this familiar brand. In fact, the company now sells a line of clothing called Dickies Girl for young women that combines a slim look with the company’s traditional long-lasting, durable fabrics. Artists such as Madonna and Avril Lavigne have worn Dickies dresses on stage, and the brand has also been “discovered” by Hollywood. Billy Bob Thornton and Tim McGraw have worn Dickies in Friday Night Lights and the brand has also appeared in films such as The Dukes of Hazard, Jump Shot, Talladega Nights and Charlotte’s Web.
In 2005, Williamson-Dickie sponsored the first Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The company also sponsors an annual Worker of the Year contest, which awards the winner a weekend in Nashville and a new Dodge Ram pickup. Williamson-Dickie continues to expand. The company has a strong Internet presence, offering a special business-to-business website and online retailers such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and JC Penney.
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