Read what they had to say on the OshKosh B'Gosh Website
AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
OshKosh B'Gosh brand clothing has been a household name in the United States since 1895.
Even the name of our most famous garment - the bib overall - is pure Americana. Over the
years, we've earned an honest reputation for producing quality clothing at a fair price.
So much so, that we still sell more bib overalls than any other company in the world, in
sizes as small as three months and as large as a 50 inch waist.
FROM MAIN STREET TO FIFTH AVENUE
Although we're best known today as a leader in children's wear, our original intention was
to clothe the working man. Founded over a century ago in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, our roots can
be traced back to making sturdy bib overalls for Midwestern farm and railroad workers. And
while much has changed since 1895, our commitment to producing durable, well-styled
Overalls have remained constant.
Even though we began producing children's overalls back in the early 1900's, they remained
merely a novelty item until 1962. That's when Miles Kimball, a mail-order house based here
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, featured a pair of children's bib overalls in its national catalog.
The response was so strong, it prompted us to offer them to children's specialty stores.
Soon, prominent department stores such as Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue were
carrying our children's wear line. In response to retailers requests for more styles, we
added infant wear and knit tops to complement the children's overalls and jeans.
That was just the beginning. Our children's wear sales, which represented only 5 percent
in 1974, currently account for approximately 95 percent of sales. We've expanded our
apparel line to include sweaters, activewear, swimwear, outerwear, and footwear. We even
offer a separate layette and preemie line for newborns. Our expansion has included
establishing licensing agreements with a number of manufacturers to produce accessories
such as hosiery, hats, eyewear, bedding, strollers, car seats, overalls, books and plush
toys.
OSHKOSH B'GOSH STORES
As our children's wear line gained more and more appeal, OshKosh B'Gosh stepped up
marketing efforts to a national - and eventually international - level. Today, our
products are carried in more than 70 countries through a network of licensees,
distributors and international retailers. While department and specialty stores remain a
key channel of distribution, one of our biggest customers is now our own retail chain.
Started in 1981 with one outlet store, it has grown to include over 100 retail stores
throughout the country and in 1994, we launched a flagship store in New York designed to
showcase our clothing lines to trend-setting audiences.
Although we are traditionally known as a children's wear brand in most countries, demand
for all OshKosh B'Gosh clothing, accessories, overalls and men's wear continues to grow
around the world