And of course, Fruit of the Loom is known for its iconic logo that’s synonymous with the brand – you can’t tell us you don’t think of Fruit of the Loom when you see a picture of a basket of fruit now, can you? The company proudly boasts that they have over 28,000 employees working for them around the globe. More than a century and a half later, Fruit of the Loom remains one of the leading global companies in underwear, t-shirts, casual clothing, loungewear, and sleepwear. And if you really want to blow your own mind and put that into perspective, Fruit of the Loom is a trademark that is older than the automobile, telephones, and even lightbulbs and electricity. The company was founded in 1851 after brothers Benjamin Knight and Robert Knight bought their first textile mill in Warwick, Rhode Island, who then trademarked Fruit of the Loom in 1871, which actually makes it one of the world’s oldest brands. What Is Fruit of the Loom?įruit of the Loom is another well-established clothing company that produces a wide range of underwear, undershirts, athletic apparel, socks, activewear, thermals, sleepwear, and more. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star” as well, which means if you’re looking for a company that takes pride in protecting its workers and the environment, Hanes is right up your alley.

Hanes is also the “only apparel producer to ever be honored for its workplace practices in Central America and the Caribbean by the Great Place to Work Institute and has been named Forbes Best Large Employer,” and is “an 11-time honoree of the U.S. In 2006, HanesBrands was created, and over the last decade and a half, the ever-growing company has acquired a slew of other name brands to add to its lineup, including Champion, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Leggs, Bonds, and more, and are dedicated to their mission of being the “socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia-Pacific.” Thankfully, they expanded their product line over the last century and now produce underwear, undershirts, athletic wear, sweatpants, sweatshirts, thermals, sleep sets, tank tops, and pretty much any type of undergarment or loungewear item you can think of for men, women, and kids. The company originally made socks for only babies and men, which seems like a very, very niche market. Hanes is a brand founded by John Welsey Hanes and has been around since the early 1900s.

Fruit loom