Jockey Underwear

Jockey underwear seems to be the father of modern underwear they were the first to do a jock and they have a huge following that is not really matched by anyone in the mid range section, this is the area they have forged their reputation in. Their heritage started way back in 1876 when the wool hosiery manufacturer Samuel Cooper started a company called Copper and Sons, this lead to the first underwear company being founded, Jockey International. He started with a solution for men with a range of socks that stopped blistering that the poor quality socks of the time produced. Jockey has started with the intent for extremely good quality and value for money underwear that is accessible for everyone. Within 2 years they expanded with machinery engines and a dye house, automating the process, they were employing almost 100 people in the premises and were selling around 2.5k items daily. There was an injection of capital a few years later again nearing the later part of the 1800's and with added to production capacity the capital come from a man named Abel Wells, which changed the name to Wells and Cooper. The added output along with the name of an excellent product, the Wells Cooper and Company popularity grew and so did the demand in turn. Samuel T Copper died close the 1900's in 1892 didn't see the turn of the century or the growth of this company. Throughout the next few decades the company grew and changed locations several times they moved to Wisconsin servicing the markets in both Milwaukee and Chicago. Willis and Charles Cooper Company increased their share in the Chicago-Rockford Hosiery Company and adapted several brands that were well recognized such as the Black Cat Stocking brand that was very popular with Men, Women and children of the time. It was about this time at the turn of the century that Willis and Charles Cooper started to explore the idea of a new venture Men's Underwear.

The cooper Family come together and the 2 brothers formed a company named the Cooper Underwear Company which they used as a vehicle to expand a different range. Using the facilities and knowledge they had gained to form a focus on men's underwear alone they now made a revolution in modern underwear the closed crotch suite. Men of the day found it comfortable to wear and a great advancement. It becomes a hit and the company patented the idea and had to procure 3rd parties to produce the underwear line because of its success.

Jockey was the first company to make such advancements in men's underwear and also the first to use specific advertising to sell its products; they promoted the new lines through the Evening Post. The first half of the 20th century saw many social and economic changes that shaped the development of underwear and undergarments. Simple changes from 1 piece body suites to skivvies and boxers, gave people freedom and movement that was never before experienced. The company moved to California in the just at the start of the great depression which was poor timing that was unavoidable without foresight, the distribution arm was to be run from there. It was about this time that the Jockey Short was developed by Arthur Kneibler and was introduced by Jockey. There was a pioneering trend by Jockey/Coopers towards a short legged and sleeveless design of underwear , again greater movement and a freer feel. In 1934 Kneibler had a fabulous idea that was derived from French swimwear, to make a swimwear style brief but for underwear not swimming, it would offer the support that a man would need for his bits and the comfort and new level of freedom that was not previously known. This was coupled by the success of the Y front and in the next 5 years Jockey started exporting and licensing their product worldwide. For us here in OZ it was the year 1938 that Jockey landed on our shores with a licensing agreement between Jockey and MacRea Mills. Jockey was famous for supporting the world war II effort providing the US soldiers with fresh underwear and also sponsored the Home base hitting king Babe Ruth, both of which paid massive dividends in promoting the brand. After expanding across the world and introducing new modern lines of underwear the parent company Cooper changed it's name to Jockey Menswear in 1971. The company remained a family business with the daughter Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt for Harry Wolf Snr taking the helm of the business in 1978. Jockey even moved into a high end fashion tie in the early 80's with an YSL venture and in the late 80's Jockey moved into women's underwear and of course it was a major success.

Jockey today is 1 of the top 5 brands that is sold worldwide and we would have to agree that that is also reflected in by the team here at DUGG and in our experience they are also the most well made and loved by the Aussie public. They continue to develop the most innovative underwear in the market, one of the most cleaver designs they have produced is the Jockey 3d which is underwear that is contoured to the male body which no other has previously achieved. It really is shaped in the form of males behind and leg area. Worth a mention is their active cool sports range which is the quintessential gold standard in active sports underwear, it is made from a blend of materials that draw moisture away from the skin, though more importantly the mesh design is perfect for keeping you cool when playing sport or any activity.

Obviously Jockey Menswear has developed for over a century as the leading brand with more experience and history than any other.