OshKosh B'Gosh
Encyclopedia
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
in 1895. It is currently a subsidiary of Carter's
Carter's, Inc.
Carter's, Inc. , also known as the William Carter Company, is a major American manufacturer of children's apparel. It was founded in 1865 by William Carter. Previously, the company also made underwear for adults...
.
Originally a small-town manufacturer of adult work clothing, it has become best known for its children's clothing, especially bib overalls. The original children's overalls, dating from the early twentieth century, were intended to let parents dress their children like their fathers. According to the company, sales of the product increased after Miles Kimball, an Oshkosh-based mail-order catalog, featured a pair of the overalls in its national catalog in 1960. As a result, OshKosh B'Gosh began to sell their products through department stores and expanded their children's line. Children's clothing made up fifteen percent of the company's sales in 1979; by 1993 that number was 95 percent.
Carter's, Inc.
Carter's, Inc. , also known as the William Carter Company, is a major American manufacturer of children's apparel. It was founded in 1865 by William Carter. Previously, the company also made underwear for adults...
, another clothing manufacturer in 2005 for $312 million, though it still operates under the original name and maintains a corporate
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
headquarters in Oshkosh. Today, the company sells accessories, jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
, pants
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
, shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
s, sweater
Sweater
A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top...
s, t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s and tank tops, and its trademark overalls. The company produces clothing for babies, infants, toddlers, kids (4-7), and youth (5-12). For a time, OshKosh also made clothing for men and women, but stopped making adult sizes because of poor sales. The company also has over one hundred outlet store
Outlet store
An outlet store or factory outlet is a brick and mortar or online retail store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a factory or warehouse, sometimes allowing customers to watch the production process like in the...
s in the United States of America.