5 THINGS YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TODAY IF IT WEREN’T FOR JOCKEY
As one of the most popular names in the inner wear world, Jockey is credited with revolutionizing the industry time and again. Our innovations have been reinvented and redesigned to cater to the whims and fancies of different generations. But, most of these innovations remain unbeknownst to most. Here’s a look at eight firsts from Jockey, that have now become industry standards.
Jockey’s Brief History
The year was 1934, our Head of Marketing and Sales Arthur Kneibl, received a postcard from a friend with an image of a man sporting a bikini-style swimsuit. However, Arthur Kneibl did not see a swimsuit – he saw the the future of men’s innerwear. And just like that, the avant-garde Jockey Brief – that went on to redefine men’s innerwear – was born.
Jockey on Waistbands
If you thought hip-hop stars were responsible for the underwear-waistband-flaunting trend, think again. Jockey was the first to popularise branded waistbands with the launch of the ‘Look for the Brand on the Band’ campaign in 1947. This elastic band featured two trademarks – the iconic ‘Jockey’ logo along with ‘Y-Fronts’.
Jockey for Her
Though Jockey started off as a pioneer in the field of men’s innerwear, we felt the need to cater to the fairer sex as well. Promptly, Jockey for her was envisioned in 1982 – an exclusive collection of innerwear for women. Part of the collection was the ‘Jockey bra’ – a first of it’s kind that could measure volume to give women a desired fit. It is currently protected vigorously by over 50 patents!
Jockey over the Moon
Another Jockey first is underwear that’s out of this world, quite literally. We were the first company to introduce underwear that stays unaffected by zero gravity. NASA commissioned us to design undergarments for the first manned mission to the moon, and we delivered. You could say The Space Age of underwear began with us.
No Plain Jockey
By introducing novelty prints in underwear designs in 1948 – cleverly promoting them with the tagline ‘fancy pants’ — Jockey redefined the image of underwear being white and boring! We took it up a whole notch in 1953 with the introduction of animal print designs – a segment first.
Jockey on Display
The showcasing of intimate wear at stores ﹘ what started off as Jockey’s attempt to unhinge the ‘hush-hush’ surrounding underwear in the 30s, eventually turned into a prevalent fad. Many retailers, including St. Louis department store, Farrow-Par Company, liked the fashionable new look that the Jockey line brought to floor displays. There was definitely no looking back.
The Jockey Union
It was in 1909, that union suits were destined to never be the same again. The Closed Crotch union suit, a simple and ingenious innovation, was a Jockey first and took the world by storm! It eliminated fabric where the traditional union suit tended to bunch, marking a historic advance in underwear.
Jockey in a bag
From the union suit was born the Singleton, with shorter legs and a sleeveless top. But what revolutionized the present-day underwear industry (and the apparel industry as a whole, for that matter), was the Singleton’s packaging. As a first in the business, it came packaged in cellophane bags ﹘ creating convenience as we know it today.
Jockey has been and will continue to shape the future of the underwear industry. With a presence in over 140 countries and catering to the inner needs of millions of people, innovations and inventions are inevitable. Don’t be surprised if more such ‘Jockey firsts’ become staples in your everyday life.
As one of the most popular names in the inner wear world, Jockey is credited with revolutionizing the industry time and again. Our innovations have been reinvented and
