Haggar Clothing

Haggar® is a Dallas-based menswear brand sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Founding and History

Joseph Marion (J.M.) Haggar founded the Haggar Company in Dallas, Texas in 1926. He personally purchased all materials, supervised production, and handled all sales from a one-room office in the Santa Fe Building. By 1929, Haggar occupied two floors of the building with 250 employees and over the next few years grew to 500 employees, with production of 75,000 pairs of pants annually.^[3]

In 1933, Haggar upgraded its manufacturing methods to mirror Henry Ford's Straight Line Production model of automobile manufacturing. Operators began pants production on a single unit rather than bundles; these units were then passed along by the conveyor to the next operator. Due to the revision of the process, manufacturing costs decreased while productivity increased.

Haggar officially became a national company in 1938, employing a nationwide sales organization and running its first national advertising campaign.

In 1940, Haggar created the first pre-cuffed pant. The sale of the design led to more growth that allowed the company to move to a new headquarters, including a modern sewing production plant, on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas.

During World War II, J.M. Haggar kept factories running 24 hours a day to continuously supply clothing for the U.S. military. By the end of the war, more than 10 million garments had been produced in Haggar factories, and by the end of the decade, Haggar had become the largest producer and marketer of slacks in the world.

In 1950, Haggar became the first men's apparel brand to advertise on national television with an ad airing on the Today Show.

By 1971, Haggar had been declared the number one brand of pants in the United States and began manufacturing sport coats, vests, and Haggar "Custom Fit" suits, which allowed customers to purchase jackets and pants separately, thus creating a new menswear category: suit separates.^[3]

Haggar's innovations reached beyond apparel with their creation of the "Haggar Hanger" in 1971, which for the first time allowed retailers to sell pants on hanging fixtures instead of flat folded on tables. In the 1980s, Haggar became the first in the apparel industry to adopt EDI quick-response inventory replenishment, and to use UPC codes to ticket merchandise. In 1987, Haggar invented and received a patent for the "Size Strip" sticker, which is used by almost all brands of pants today to identify size and fit on folded bottoms programs.

Haggar introduced 100% cotton "wrinkle-free" pants to the market in 1992 and followed with the introduction of moisture-wicking fabrics and pants with a self-adjusting waist.

Eco-Friendly Efforts

In 2009, Haggar began producing eco-friendly apparel designed to reduce waste and conserve natural resources using post-consumer recycled fibers. Its sustainable E-CLO™ line is made using Unifi's Repreve® fibers^[4] made of recycled water bottles. Since introducing the line, Haggar has documented the up cycling of over 130 million plastic bottles.^[5]

Haggar Hall of Fame Dads™ Campaign

On February 1, 2018, Haggar began accepting nominations for its inaugural Haggar Hall of Fame Dads^[6] contest via the website www.haggarHOFDad.com. The contest consists of site visitors uploading a photo or video, along with a caption describing why their dad or father figure should be entered into the Haggar Hall of Fame.

After a public voting period and deliberation by the clothing company's internal judging panel, Haggar will enshrine 52 winners in the Haggar Hall of Fame, representing each U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. One grand prize winner will win a VIP trip to his choice of the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame or 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.

Other Haggar Clothing Co. Markets

Haggar has over 80 branded brick and mortar retail locations and is sold in partner retailers including Kohl's, JCPenney, Target, and Belk. The company produces women's apparel through its subsidiary, Haggar Canada Co.^[7] and also manufactures, markets, and distributes Kenneth Cole men's apparel, including Kenneth Cole Black Label, Kenneth Cole New York Reaction Kenneth Cole, and Unlisted, a Kenneth Cole Production.

On April 5, 2018, Haggar completed its purchase of certain assets of Brisbane, California-based Kizan International, Inc., doing business as Louis Raphael, a leading men's apparel company. Haggar will acquire, among other assets, all of Kizan's intellectual property, inventory, and work in progress.^[8]

Haggar will continue to operate the Louis Raphael business out of its current offices and distribution center in California during a transition period through June 30, 2018, before bringing operations to Haggar's Dallas headquarters and Fort Worth distribution center.

Sports Collaborations

Haggar has partnered with various sports celebrities, using their likeness in campaigns over the years.

Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle^[9]
Eddie Mathews^[10]
Robin Roberts^[11]

National Football League
Bobby Lane^[12]
Roger Staubach^[13]
Emmitt Smith^[14]

Professional Golfers' Association
Arnold Palmer^[15]
Dow Finsterwald^[16]
Doug Ford^[17]

Haggar is also the official provider of Hall of Fame jackets for multiple national athletic organizations:
• Official provider of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold Jacket^[18]
• Official provider of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Jacket^[19]
• Official clothing partner and provider of the Hockey Hall of Fame Jacket^[20]

Popular culture

In the Simpsons episode "The Last Temptation of Krust", Krusty the Clown makes reference to stealing a pair of Haggar slacks.

Jimmy Connors once offered a pair of Haggars as a peace offering to his disgruntled opponent, Rod Laver.^[21]

In 1971, a young John Travolta appeared in a national television commercial for Haggar Slacks.^[22]

On August 9, 1964, United States President Lyndon Johnson personally placed an order over the phone, with Joe Haggar, Jr. for six pairs of Haggar slacks from the Oval Office. Johnson stated that Haggar pants were "the best [he'd] had anywhere in the United States." The President preferred the Dallas manufacturer's slacks because they provided more room. Other manufacturer's slacks "cut him" and wearing their pants was like "riding a wire fence." Johnson went on to order a summer shirt of the same material.^[23][24]

In the second season of Frisky Dingo (2006-2008) Haggar pants as well as their 'patented suit up system' are often mentioned as being top quality.

References

External links

• Haggar Clothing Company official site