Jockey marks 150th Anniversary with year-long celebration
American heritage underwear and apparel brand Jockey is marking its 150th anniversary with a yearlong celebration of strategic partnerships and a limited-edition Jockey 1876 collection designed to honour its legacy and future.
Founded in 1876 by a small company_ S.T. Cooper & Sons_ with a mission to satisfy "the human need for comfort_” Jockey has become internationally recognised as one of America_s best-known family-owned innerwear and apparel brands.
What began as a business crafting high-quality wool socks_ founded by Reverend Samuel T. Cooper_ has evolved into a global brand sold in more than 120 countries. Jockey is widely recognised for its transformation of the men_s underwear market_ as it designed the first men_s brief_ the Jockey Y-Front Short_ in the 1930s_ providing men with an alternative to full-body union suits.
It followed up this innovation with an endorsement from baseball legend Babe Ruth in the 1940s_ which saw _Jockey_ being sewn into the waistband_ marking the first time a company had branded its product in this manner. Then_ in the 1950s_ it added its first women_s panty_ the Jockette briefs_ followed by a collection of Jockey Life washable sportswear pieces in the 1960s.
The brand also has an impressive global patent and trademark portfolio_ including the men's Y-Front brief_ providing support previously only found in jockstraps_ the Staycool+ technology_ and women's Skimmies slipshorts and Seamfree underwear.
Debra S. Waller_ chairman and chief executive officer of Jockey_ said in a statement: "For 150 years_ families have trusted Jockey to deliver comfort and quality they can depend on. As a family-owned company shaped by generations of leadership_ from Rev. Cooper to my grandfather_ Harry H. Wolf Sr._ and my mother_ Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt_ we approach this milestone with responsibility.
“Our focus has always been to deliver comfort and quality_ serve families and communities_ and design for the next generation."
To honour its 150-year legacy_ Jockey is launching a yearlong celebration anchored by its limited-edition Jockey 1876 Collection_ which draws inspiration from the brand's vault_ “reviving signature silhouettes_ craftsmanship details and archival design elements” with modern materials and refined fits and contemporary features for today's consumer.
The limited-edition drops will begin in March and continue throughout the year_ with products available at Jockey.com_ Jockey retail stores and the company's flagship retail experience_ Coopers 12South_ located in the iconic 12South neighbourhood of Nashville.
This will sit alongside expanded brand media investment_ experiential events_ and strategic partnerships with America250_ Trackhouse Racing_ Folds of Honor and New Zealand Rugby's All Blacks_ which the brand adds have been designed to engage consumers “where sport_ culture and community converge”.
Mark Fedyk_ president and chief operating officer at Jockey_ added: "Reaching 150 years is a remarkable achievement and one we do not take lightly. This milestone is about honouring the people and the passionate work that brought us here_ celebrating something few organisations ever achieve_ and introducing new audiences to who Jockey is today.
“As we celebrate our legacy_ we are equally focused on building the next era of innovation and relationships."