Hardwick Clothes

Last updated

Hardwick Clothes
Company typePrivately Held Company
IndustryClothing Manufacturer
Founded1880
Headquarters Cleveland, Tennessee
Area served
United States
Key people
 Allan Jones
(Owner/Chairman) Bruce Bellusci
(CEO/President)
Website www.hardwickclothes.com

Hardwick Clothes is an American clothing manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee specializing in tailor-made suits for men and women. [1] Founded on July 28, 1880, Hardwick Clothes is the oldest maker of tailored clothing in America, and the second-oldest company in Bradley County, Tennessee. [2]

Contents

History

C.L. Hardwick, founder of Hardwick Clothes Photo of C L Hardwick.jpg
C.L. Hardwick, founder of Hardwick Clothes
Old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory building in Cleveland, Tennessee Hardwick Woolen Mills Cleveland TN A.jpg
Old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory building in Cleveland, Tennessee

Hardwick Clothes is the oldest tailor-made clothing maker in the United States. The company started as Cleveland Woolen Mills, founded in 1880 in Cleveland, Tennessee, by C. L. Hardwick, John Craigmiles, John Parker, P.B. Mayfield and Creed Bates. [3] Hardwick put his son George, in charge of the clothing company, while his son Joseph ran the family's other company, Hardwick Stove. The company achieved early success from weaving "jean cloth," a blend (76% wool, 24% cotton) that was crafted into a popular product known as "Dollar Pants." [4]

Over the years, the company added modern machinery, and eventually Cleveland Woolen Mills evolved into a manufacturing plant, as well as a mill. [4] In 1925, the name was changed to Hardwick Woolen Mills. [5] By the 1920s Hardwick Woolen Mills had expanded its operations, weaving the wool yarn and tailoring finished garments in the same factory. The integrated operation reflected the company motto: "From the sheep's back to the clothing rack." Among the many garments produced were men's suits, overcoats, knickers and boys' wear. [4]

Hardwick Mills survived the Great Depression as a cottage industry, with much of the sewing done in the homes of workers. Despite the poor economy, Hardwick Mills continued to grow during the 1930s. After the New Deal introduced labor laws regulating working hours, production moved back into the factory. [4]

For the first half of the 20th century, Hardwick Mills was one of the largest manufacturers of wool fabric and men's clothing in the world. [3] During World War II, Hardwick Mills manufactured uniforms for the military. After the war, the demand for wool decreased with the introduction of synthetic fabrics. [4]

In the 1950s, Hardwick Mills sold its woolen operations to focus on the men's tailored clothing market. During this time, the company rebranded itself as Hardwick Clothes, Inc. The company also ended its status as a private label and, for the first time, began to advertise. Hardwick soon became a leader in the market for blazers, boasting one of the largest in-stock blazer programs in the industry. [4]

In 1974, Hardwick Clothes moved from its original factory on Church Street to a modern 175,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant on the north side of Cleveland. The new facility allowed the company to modernize its equipment to remain competitive against overseas competition. [4] [5]

In the 21st century Hardwick expanded its base of specialty-store retailers with catalog and department store accounts. Its domestic clothing production has enabled the company to land contracts with organizations as diverse as the U.S. military and Major League Baseball umpires. [4] [5]

In 2001, the old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. [6] [7]

Recent history

In 2013, due to the struggling economy, Hardwick Clothes faced problems with creditors and an underfunded pension plan that covers more than 600 employees and retirees. [8] The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation had demanded a payment of more than $7 million that coincided with the company's discontinuation of its pension plan due to a slowing of the marketplace. The payment was expected within days after the notice was received by Hardwick, causing the company to file for bankruptcy protection. [2] [9]

In March 2014, Cleveland businessman W. Allan Jones made a $1.9 million offer to purchase the company, and on June 19, 2014, the sale was completed. [1] [10] Jones owns a number of consumer financial services companies, such as Check Into Cash, Loan by Phone, U.S. Money Shops, Buy Here Pay Here USA, and LendingFrog.com. [8]

Upon completion of the sale, Jones told the media, "Since that first day, the company has survived two major fires, two World Wars, the Great Depression, leisure suits, NAFTA and – worst of all – making us watch China manufacture our Olympic team's blazers." Jones also launched a new website for the company—Hardwick.com. [11] [12]

In July 2014, Bruce Bellusci was named the new CEO/President, becoming the ninth CEO/President of Hardwick Clothes in the company's history. Bellusci worked at Hart Schaffner Marx for 34 years, serving as executive vice president since 2006. Bellusci made several notable hires within his first few months, including several salesmen and the VP of Technical Design, Jeffery Diduch, from the Hart Schaffner Marx organization. Diduch now serves as Hardwick Clothes Chief Creative Officer where he oversees all design, technical development, and creative direction for the brand. The company also announced it will be flying over its factory the original 38-star American flag from 1880, the year it was founded. [11] [12]

Jones told the media in 2015 that he would help the stable southern workforce at Hardwick to reach new levels of productivity by purchasing state-of-the-art German and Italian automation technology. Jones said the addition of the technology would make Hardwick the most modern sewing operation of its kind in the United States. [13]

On December 15, 2019, Puerto Rican Industries for the Blind acquired Hardwick Clothes. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley County, Tennessee</span> County in Tennessee, United States

Bradley County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 108,620, making it the thirteenth most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Cleveland. It is named for Colonel Edward Bradley of Shelby County, Tennessee, who was colonel of Hale's Regiment in the American Revolution and the 15th Regiment of the Tennessee Volunteers in the War of 1812. Bradley County is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland, Tennessee</span> City in Tennessee, United States

Cleveland is the county seat of, and largest city in, Bradley County, Tennessee. The population was 47,356 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Cleveland metropolitan area, Tennessee, which is included in the Chattanooga–Cleveland–Dalton, TN–GA–AL Combined Statistical Area.

Pendleton Woolen Mills is an American textile manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is known for its blankets and woolen clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland High School (Tennessee)</span> High school in Tennessee, United States

Cleveland High School (CHS) is a public high school in the Cleveland City Schools system located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1967 and serves 1,662 students in grades 9 to 12. The school's mascot is the Blue Raider, and its school colors are blue, white, and red. The principal is Bob Pritchard. The school maintains a rivalry with the crosstown Bradley Central High School, as with their other crosstown rival Walker Valley High School.

Peerless Woolen Mills was a subsidiary of Burlington Industries which maintained plants in Cleveland, Tennessee, Rossville, Georgia, and Tifton, Georgia between 1951 - 1961. Burlington Industries closed the two Georgia production sites in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Tennessee</span>

The U.S. state of Tennessee contains a diverse economy that is made up of many sectors with a mix of industries including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and tourism. The state is home to several major corporations, including FedEx, the largest courier company in the world, and AutoZone, the largest retailer of auto parts in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant</span> Automotive assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.

The Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant is an American automobile assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The plant was formally announced in July 2008 and was formally inaugurated in May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luciano Barbera</span> High-end mens clothing company

Luciano Barbera is a high-end men’s clothing company based in Biella, Italy, a town and commune in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EPB</span> Electricity and telecommunications company in Chattanooga, Tennessee

EPB of Chattanooga, formerly known as the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, is an American electric power distribution and telecommunication company owned by the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. EPB serves nearly 180,000 homes and businesses in a 600-square mile area in the greater Chattanooga area and Hamilton County. In 2010, EPB was the first company in the United States to offer 1 Gbit/s high-speed internet over a fiber optic network, over 200 times faster than the national average. As a result, Chattanooga has been called "Gig City" and held up as a national model for deploying the world's fastest internet and the most advanced Smart Grid electric distribution system in the United States. On October 15, 2015, Chattanooga implemented the world's first community-wide 10-gig Internet service.

Bradley Square Mall is a shopping mall located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Opened in 1991, the mall has more than 50 inline tenants. The anchor stores are Belk, AMC Theatres, and Dunham's Sports. There is 1 vacant anchor store that was once JCPenney. The mall is managed by the Shane Morrison Companies based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Jones (businessman)</span> American businessman

William Allan Jones Jr. is an American businessman from Cleveland, Tennessee. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of Check Into Cash, Creditcorp, Jones Management Services and the Community Financial Services Association, and several other local lending agencies. He has been called the "father of the payday loan industry" for founding and building the first major payday loan chain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitson Woolen Mill</span> United States historic place

Kitson Woolen Mill, also known as the Holland Thread Company building, is a historic woolen mill complex located at Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The complex consists of four brick buildings built between 1893 and 1904. They are arranged in a "U"-shape and consist of the "East Wing," "West Wing," boiler house, and office. The Kitson Woolen Mill was in operation until 1928, after which the mill was occupied by the Holland Thread Company until 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolrich</span> American outdoor clothing company

Woolrich, Inc. is an American outdoor clothing company that originated in Woolrich, Pennsylvania, in 1830.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traditional clothing of Kosovo</span>

Traditional clothing is one of the factors that has differentiated this nation from neighboring countries, dating back as far as the Illyrian era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolrich, Pennsylvania</span> Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, United States

Woolrich is an unincorporated community in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its elevation is 725 feet, and it is located at 41°12′28″N77°22′19″W.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing industry</span> Industry encompassing the design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of clothes

Clothing industry or garment industry summarizes the types of trade and industry along the production and value chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile industry, embellishment using embroidery, via the fashion industry to apparel retailers up to trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. The producing sectors build upon a wealth of clothing technology some of which, like the loom, the cotton gin, and the sewing machine heralded industrialization not only of the previous textile manufacturing practices. Clothing industries are also known as allied industries, fashion industries, garment industries, or soft goods industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Woolen Mills</span> Defunct textile manufacturer in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Woolen Mills were a wool textile manufacturer in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. By 1950, they had become the largest wool manufacturer west of Cleveland, Ohio. The origins of the factory started in Sellwood in 1901 but after a fire destroyed the mill two years later owners decided to rebuild in St. Johns. Portland Woolen Mills offered several worker programs including baseball, basketball and bowling teams; a cafeteria and a library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Regional Jetport</span> Airport in Cleveland, TN

Cleveland Regional Jetport is a public general aviation airport located near the community of Tasso, Tennessee, US, approximately four miles north of the business district of Cleveland. Opened on January 25, 2013, it is owned by the City of Cleveland and serves Cleveland and Bradley County.

Burlington Heights is a neighborhood located within the city of Cleveland, Tennessee.

Chatham Manufacturing Company is an American textile brand founded in 1877 that has made automobile upholstery, jeans, and flannels. Its most famous product is the Chatham Blanket. It was the largest blanket manufacturer in the world at its height.

References

  1. 1 2 Flessner, Dave (March 25, 2014). "Cleveland millionaire Allan Jones makes bid to buy bankrupt Hardwick Clothes". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Graves, Brian (June 20, 2014). "Sewing up the deal". Cleveland Daily Banner. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Daniels, Karen L. (January 2001). "Hardwick Woolen Mills National Register of Historic Places Nomination" (PDF). Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hill, Fletcher (June 14, 2011). "Hardwick Clothes: The History". Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Hardwick Clothes celebrates 130th year". Cleveland Daily Banner. August 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ Biddle-Douglass, Teresa (January 1, 2010). "Hardwick Stove Company". The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Tennessee Historical Society. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places, Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/09/01 through 4/13/01". National Park Service. April 20, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Smith, Ellis (June 7, 2014). "Payday lender Allan Jones to buy America's oldest suitmaker, Hardwick Clothes in Cleveland". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ Flessner, Dave (December 7, 2013). "Agency denies pushing Cleveland, Tenn., company Hardwick Clothes into bankruptcy". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ Flessner, Dave (June 19, 2014). "Allan Jones completes purchase of Hardwick Clothes". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Bruce Bellusci Is New President of Hardwick Clothes; Company Gets New Flag". Chattanoogan.com. July 23, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Graves, Brian (July 23, 2014). "HC celebrates 134th: New CEO Bruce Bellusci joins manufacturer's spirited bash". Cleveland Daily Banner. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "WOOP Special Report – Hardwick Getting New Technology". WOOP FM . May 5, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Allan Jones Sells Hardwick Clothes; Major Hirings Expected". The Chattanoogan. December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.