C.N. Williamson and E.E. "Colonel" Dickie founded a company for denim dungarees and sold them to farm workers in the southwestern United States. The main focus was on rugged workwear, and in addition to Dickies dungarees, overalls, jackets and shirts were produced.
The company's steady growth was slowed only by the Great Depression, but during World War II the company produced millions of uniforms for the U.S. Army. A switch to civilian production followed after the war, and the company pursued geographic expansion. Warehouses and sales territories sprang up across the country, and by the late 1950s Williamson-Dickie, or Dickies, became an international company. The brand expanded into Europe and the Middle East, where its clothing was used in the oil fields. In 1954, Dickies also got its legendary logo. At first glance, many of you think the logo is a horseshoe, but in reality it is an ox collar, part of the harness to pull a plow or wagon. It's meant to allude both to the brand's Texan origins and to the strength, power and endurance of the animals, qualities that are also synonymous with Dickies clothing.
The iconic Dickies Eisenhower jacket.
The origin of the jacket goes back to the uniforms of American pilots in World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower appreciated the jacket so much that he had it adapted for all American soldiers. To this day, the Eisenhower jacket from Dickies is still in the assortment and is one of the most iconic pieces of clothing of the 20th century.
The Dickies Work Shirt.
Another garment of the brand, which is known worldwide: the Dickies Work Shirt. The shirt with its resilence became a constant companion for workers and creative people under the model name 1574. Already since the 1950s there is the classic and even today you get the shirt in different colors. Everyone knows the shirt from Hollywood movies, when the car mechanic comes into the picture with his name on the chest.
The classic 874 Dickies Work Pant.
In 1967, the original 874 Work Pant was added to the Dickies portfolio. It is made of a cotton-poly twill blend, an extremely durable material. Generations of workmen know how to use these features of Dickies pants. The available colors became more and more fancy over the decades and at the latest in the 80s, Dickies pants were also worn by rappers. Another time, a part of workwear, became a garment of streetwear. In the 90s, another subculture appreciated the durable pants. The skateboarding scene in the USA was the perfect indicator to let the Dickies pants become a part of streetwear. The durable Dickies pants held up even if you laid down while doing tricks.
In the now already 100-year history of Dickies, the brand has developed from a producer of workwear to a permanent fixture in the fashion industry. In order to also appeal to a younger target group, Dickies has adapted its product range to meet their needs. It is impossible to imagine the international streetwear scene without Dickies. Dickies shirts and Dickies pants, dungarees and overalls, as well as sweaters and hoodies, Dickies has the right piece for every taste.
