| Hugo Boss started out as a small workshop in | | | | German for a corporation that is owned by |
| Metzingen, Germany. Founded in 1923, and | | | | shareholders). By 1987, the company was |
| named after its founder, it claimed a | | | | grossing $500 million per annum. |
| controversial spot in history; having | | | | |
| produced the Nazi SS uniforms and utilizing | | | | A big portion of the company was sold to the |
| forced labor from France and Poland in World | | | | Japanese Leyton Group in 1989, although the |
| War II, when uniforms were in great demand. | | | | Holy brothers remained active in the |
| | | | management process. Three years later, they |
| The company started out with industrial | | | | resigned whilst retaining designer stores in |
| worker suits, uniforms and raincoats. Boss | | | | Munich and Stuttgart under the Hugo Boss |
| died in 1948 and grandsons Uwe and Jochen | | | | Company. Marzotto became a major shareholder |
| Holy took over and geared it towards the more | | | | in 1991 and hired Peter Littmann as the new |
| promising path of menswear. The company | | | | CEO. In response to the economic recession, |
| released its very first suit design for men | | | | two more labels were added namely Hugo - for |
| in 1953. | | | | the young and hip professional, and |
| | | | Baldessarini - for the classy top executive. |
| Competition was stiff in the German market in | | | | Within a year, profits increased up to 74% |
| the 1960s so the brothers decided to create | | | | and the company further expanded to the |
| men's suits in colorful hues made from | | | | Southeast Asian region. In 1997, the company |
| durable, quality fabrics by Gaenslen & | | | | promised to reimburse to slave laborers post |
| Voelter. Over the decade, Hugo Boss bested | | | | World War I. |
| other companies by introducing trendier suits | | | | |
| made of light Italian fabric, in contrast to | | | | Littmann was succeeded by chief designer and |
| the traditional German suits that were made | | | | marketing manager Werner Baldessarini in |
| of rigid and heavy ones. | | | | 1998. This was also the time that the company |
| | | | started to design and launch lifestyle |
| Boss pioneered product export during the 70s, | | | | accessories and its very first collection of |
| conquering Western Europe first, then the | | | | women's wear. Over the years, the company |
| Atlantic and finally, the United Sates in | | | | introduced more labels, including the more |
| 1976. The high-priced line instantly gained | | | | casual Boss Golf and Boss Sport lines, and |
| acceptance in America, as popularized by | | | | Boss Black Selection. In 1999, another line - |
| renowned figures such as Sylvester Stallone, | | | | the sporty Boss Orange - was successfully |
| Bjorn Borg and the Miami vice cops. By the | | | | launched. |
| 80's, the company had already passed the DM | | | | |
| 100 million sales mark. | | | | At present Hugo Boss remains a subsidiary of |
| | | | Marzotto S.p.A., under the Valentino Fashion |
| The company made another remarkable turn in | | | | Group, which owns a 50% share in the firm. It |
| 1984 when it launched its first fragrance | | | | remains to be one of the world's top fashion |
| along with affordable casual wear like | | | | lines, with Germany being its leading |
| sweaters and sports jackets. A year later, | | | | consumer and the United States as the second. |
| the company went public and renamed itself | | | | It holds more than 350 franchise shops in |
| Hugo Boss AG (Aktiengesellschaft, which is | | | | over 90 countries around the world. |