1876 - 1921 The foundation is laid for a modern, marketing-driven, world-class company. In 1876, George Henry Bass purchases a share in E. P. Packard and Co., a shoe manufacturer in Maine, beginning his career as a shoemaker. Three years later, he becomes the sole owner, changing its name to G.H. Bass & Co. In 1881, Moses Phillips and his wife Endel began sewing shirts by hand and selling them from pushcarts to local Pottsville PA coal miners. This grows into a shirt business in New York City that places one of the first ever shirt ads in the Saturday Evening Post. In the early 1900's, Vin Draddy starts a men's apparel business and needs a strong name to associate with his quality merchandise. Vacationing in London, he encounters an elegant tailor shop in London, Jack IZOD's. Jack, a well-respected tailor who made custom shirts for King George VI and other royalty, is ready to retire and accepts Vin's offer to purchase the rights to his distinctive name. In Holland, John M. Van Heusen creates a comfortable, self-folding collar. Traveling to the United States to find a partner, he meets Isaac Phillips, Moses' son. Together they form the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation. In 1919, a patent is granted for the collar. In 1921, the revolutionary new collar is introduced to the public with immediate and overwhelming success.

1921 - 1970 The companies grow. In 1922, Phillips-Van Heusen arranges production in England with J & J Ashton and Robert M. Moody. Seven years later, the Collarite Shirt the first collar-attached shirt is introduced. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh wears Bass Aviation Moccasins on his historic flight from New York to Paris. Three years later, Bobby Jones wins his golfing Grand Slam wearing Bass Sportocasins. In 1936, Bass finds a unique shoe in Norway. After obtaining permission from the Norwegian owners to interpret the shoe with a Bass look, the Weejun was born. Van Heusen collar-attached shirts are advertised across the United States in 1939. In the fifties, celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Charleton Heston and Mickey Rooney join the marketing effort. Legendary tennis player René Lacoste partners in marketing a new pique knit. IZOD's popularity soars as an increasing number of celebrities are seen wearing IZOD shirts. Bass enters the retail outlet business in 1968 by acquiring Burgess Shoe Stores, which are renamed Bass Factory Outlets (now 230 stores and still growing).

1970 - present The growth continues.

In 1982, PVH launches Geoffrey Beene shirts, today the #1 selling designer dress shirt in America.

In 1987, PVH acquires G.H. Bass & Co. today the largest selling shoe manufacturer in America. In 1991 Van Heusen becomes the #1 selling dress shirt brand in America.

In 1995 PVH acquires IZOD one of the greatest brand names in America for knit shirts.

In 1998 the Company successfully introduces DKNY dress shirts under a licensing arrangement with Donna Karan, increasing the wide spectrum of positioning it holds in this important designer segment.

In 2000, the Van Heusen brand, which was managed separately in both the U.S.A. and Britain becomes one as Phillips-Van Heusen acquires the worldwide rights to the Van Heusen name, now becoming the number one dress shirt brand in the world. Also in 2000, PVH agrees under license to add Kenneth Cole to its designer Dress Shirt group and acquires the license for Arrow, a major competitor, complementing their mid-tier store brands sold chiefly through Sears, Kohl's and Mervyn's.

In 2002, PVH begins a new era with the acquisition of the Calvin Klein company, a solid existing business and a brand offering incredible growth potential worldwide.

In 2003, the long awaited wholesale line of IZOD brand women's sportswear is launched in department stores across America by their licensee, Kellwood Company, and initial sales exceed expectations. Also in 2003, the IZOD brand is extended by license across several new product categories including soft home goods, leather outerwear and men's tailored clothing.

The year 2004 represented one of the strongest years that Phillips-Van Heusen has experienced. Continued growth and further developments occurred within each of the three major divisions: Calvin Klein, Dress Shirts, and Sportswear. Though in no way exhaustive, highlights for this past year include the following: Demonstrating PVH's commitment to expanding the global presence of the prestigious Calvin Klein brands, several major initiatives were undertaken. Better women's and men's sportswear lines were launched under the Calvin Klein brand within a combined total of 400 better department stores across the United States. Additionally, several new Calvin Klein license agreements were announced, with products scheduled to be introduced in 2005, including handbags and small leather goods, as well as men's and women's footwear. ck Calvin Klein apparel, the brand's bridge label, which was already available for men and women in Japan and S.E. Asia, saw increased distribution through the opening of several new freestanding stores in S.E. Asia operated by retail partner Club 21, bringing the total number of freestanding stores to 11 by the end of the year. The ck Calvin Klein women's bridge sportswear line was also introduced in the United States in the fourth quarter at select U.S. department stores.

The Dress Shirt Group continued to maintain its leadership in dress shirts and to expand its offerings through new license agreements to market dress shirts under the MICHAEL Michael Kors, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Attitude, Sean John, Chaps brands. Combined, the Dress Shirt Group now offers fourteen brands - its largest roster ever.

The Sportswear Group also increased its presence through IZOD brand international and domestic product license agreements. The brand's global distribution continues to grow and this year expanded to include Central America. New offerings continued to be added to the IZOD brand, with an increased focus on the women's market; new product lines include women's swimwear, intimates and accessories.

IZOD was set to be relaunched in the green grass channel in Spring 2005 through a license agreement for IZOD G men's and women's golf apparel with PG USA Sportswear, the company behind Tehama. Not to be overshadowed by such accomplishments, history was truly made for Phillips-Van Heusen when they purchased the worldwide rights to the Arrow brand. Phillips-Van Heusen licensed the brand in the U.S. in 2000, re-invigorated it and now has the opportunity to expand upon its already significant international presence.

Although Apparel Search knows a bit about PVH, we certainly do not know their whole story.  We suggest you learn more at the PVH Corp website.  If you work at Phillips Van Heusen and have more information about your company, please let us know and we will further update this profile.

July 2015, PVH decided to phase out of the Donald J. Trump Signature Collection.

2014 Summary: PVH has evolved from its 1881 roots to become a diversified global company with over $8 billion in 2014 revenues through a combination of strategic acquisitions and by successfully growing our brands globally across the wholesale, retail, e-commerce and licensing channels. They have transformed from a primarily North American menswear business to a global organization with significant operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and with Asia and Latin America now accounting for over 20% (Excludes non-recurring and one-time items) of their operating income. As a much larger organization, they continue to operate under their core business principles, which value leaders who hold the highest ethical standards, while also driving results across the business.

June 2011 Summary: PVH Corp., one of the world's largest apparel companies, owns and markets the iconic Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands worldwide. It is the world's largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZOD, ARROW, Bass and G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands, including Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, JOE Joseph Abboud and DKNY.

ML101107 - updated 6/23/11