Bonds (clothing)

Pacific Brands Underwear Group, known under its core brand Bonds, was an Australian manufacturer and is now a subsidiary of Hanesbrands. It is an importer of men's, women's and children's underwear and clothing. The head office is located at 115 Cotham Rd in Kew, Melbourne. They sell a range of clothing including underwear and sleepwear.

Pacific Brands Underwear Group
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryClothing
FoundedSydney (1915 (1915))
FounderGeorge Alan Bond
Headquarters
115 Cotham Rd, Kew, Melbourne
,
Australia
ProductsUnderwear
Sleepwear
Light casual apparel
ParentHanesbrands
Websitewww.bonds.com.au

History
A Bonds Outlet store, 2022

George A. Bond & Co. Limited was established in 1915 by George Allan Bond,[1] an American who came to Australia in the early twentieth century. He started importing women's hosiery and gloves. In 1917 he began manufacturing hosiery in Redfern, Sydney. In 1918 he moved to Camperdown and began also making underwear.[2]

In 1923 Bond's company established a cotton-spinning mill at Wentworthville in western Sydney, with imported machinery costing 150 thousand pounds.[3] The mill commenced operations in October 1923.[4] This particular section of Wentworthville was soon renamed Pendle Hill in honour of his Scottish family origins. To facilitate easy access to Bond's Spinning Mills for employees, a railway station and eventually a whole new suburb were created.[2]

The company went into liquidation in 1929 and a public company, Bonds Industries Limited, was established. In 1970 the company merged with Coats Paton Pty Ltd. In 1987 the company was taken over by Pacific Dunlop, and it was then sold in 2001 to form a separate entity, Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd. At that time also the spinning mill was closed. In 2004 Pacific Brands Limited was listed as a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and the New Zealand Exchange (NZX).[2]

In 2006, Bonds manufactured 40% of its goods in Australia at three sites in New South Wales: Cessnock, Unanderra and Wentworthville.

Pacific Brands cut 1850 jobs and ceased manufacturing in Australia by September 2010 to reduce manufacturing costs.[5] After public outrage and media coverage of the sacked staff, a group of former employees banded together to form Tuffys & Tuffetts underwear, buying much of Bonds' old equipment and rehiring sacked staff.[6]

On 28 April 2016 Pacific Brands entered into an agreement with Hanesbrands for the acquisition of 100% of the company[7] and it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hanesbrands on 15 July 2016.

See also

References
  1. Kaye, Byron (27 April 2016). "Australia's top underwear brand back in U.S. hands after $836 million buyout". Reuters. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. "Bonds UK - About us". Bonds UK. Archived from the original on 24 October 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2006.
  3. Industrial Section, Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney), 24 October 1923, page 18.
  4. Cotton Spinning Mill!: Bond's Enterprise, Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 9 November 1923, page 6.
  5. Sharp, Ari; Zappone, Chris (25 February 2009). "Pacific Brands Exit Australia". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  6. "Bonds Staff resurrect Australian manufacturing". Daily Telegraph. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  7. "Pacific Brands Board unanimously recommends acquisition proposal from Hanes Brands" (PDF). Company Announcement. 28 April 2016.
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