VF Imagewear History

1923 Claude H. Williams, Williams Wirt Harlin, Sr., and Alexander F. Harlin formed Harlin Bros. & Williams
1927 Red Kap's logo was founded
1939 Name changed to Red Kap Garment Company
1947 Red Kap discovered the industrial laundry market and developed the industry's first laundry-friendly industrial pant and shirt
1963 Red Kap acquired Coverall Manufacturing Company of Detroit, MI and Covco Garment Company of Sparta, TN
1964 Red Kap merged with Blue Bell. Name changed to Red Kap Industries, a division of Blue Bell, Inc.
1984 Bassett-Walker, a leading designer and manufacturer of knitted and fleece activewear was acquired by VF.
1986 Blue Bell merged with VF Corporation
1991 Red Kap acquired competitor Work Wear Corp.
1992 VF Corporation moved Red Kap to wholly owned subsidiary status. Name changed to Red Kap Industries, Inc.
1994 VF acquired Nutmeg Industries and H.H. Cutler Company. Nutmeg became part of VF Knitwear Coalition with Cutler being consolidated into Nutmeg
1996 Red Kap acquired Bulwark, locking in leadership position in flame resistant protective apparel
1998 Bassett-Walker was merged with Nutmeg Industries becoming VF Knitwear, Inc on January 3, 1998

November - VF Imagewear acquired Penn State(PST)

August 6th, 1998 Red Kap celebrated 75 years of family history
1999 VF Imagewear acquired Fibrotek, a specialty product used in chip processing and cleanrooms but was shut down in 2001.

Charles Todd was acquired March 30, 1999 and Horace Small Apparel was acquired on March 31, 1999. These two businesses were purchased to establish a stronger presence in global accounts and the security industry.
2000 VF Knitwear was renamed VF Imagewear(East), Inc. on January 16, 2000
2003 January 4, 2003 the East and West became one as VF Imagewear, Inc.

February, 2003 American Licensed Products was acquired with a Harley Davidson license agreement.

VF acquired Nautica in August and in December VF Imagewear acquired E. Magrath from Nautica.

A new line, The Force, was introduced under the Horace Small brand
2004 Horace Small teamed up with The North Face brand to provide products such as "The Force" jacket.
2006 Fedex Express named VF Imagewear as a Platinum Supplier

VF Imagewear became the apparel licensee for ESPN
2007 Majestic Athletic, the sole supplier of on-field uniforms to Major League Baseball, was acquired by VF Imagewear
2008 Launch of the Hospitality line
2009 VF adds Ella Moss and Splendid to the Contemporary Brands coalition
2011 VF acquires Timberland and Smartwool brands, both of which become part of the Outdoor & Action Sports coalition.
2014 VF Awarded the 5 year uniform management contract for the Department of Homeland Security
2014 VF Announces the dedication of it's new Central Distribution Center in Kunshan, China