{{short description|American clothing manufacturer}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Hardwick Clothes | image = Hardwick Clothes is an American clothing manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee.jpg | type = Privately Held Company | industry = Clothing Manufacturer | founded = 1880 | hq_location = Cleveland, Tennessee | area_served = United States | key_people = Allan Jones<br /><small>(Owner/Chairman)</small> Bruce Bellusci<br /><small>(CEO/President)</small> | website = {{URL|www.hardwickclothes.com}} }}
'''Hardwick Clothes''' is an American clothing manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee specializing in tailor-made suits for men and women.<ref name = JonesMakesBid>{{cite news | last = Flessner | first = Dave | title = Cleveland millionaire Allan Jones makes bid to buy bankrupt Hardwick Clothes | newspaper = Chattanooga Times Free Press | date = March 25, 2014 | url = http://www.tfponline.com/news/2014/mar/25/jones-makes-bid-to-buy-bankrupt-hardwick-clothes/ | archive-url = https://archive.today/20140624164742/http://www.tfponline.com/news/2014/mar/25/jones-makes-bid-to-buy-bankrupt-hardwick-clothes/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 24, 2014 | accessdate = August 18, 2014 }}</ref> Founded on July 28, 1880, Hardwick Clothes is the second-oldest company in Bradley County, Tennessee.<ref name=sewingUpTheDeal> {{cite news |last = Graves |first = Brian |title = Sewing up the deal |newspaper = Cleveland Daily Banner |date = June 20, 2014 |url = http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25322373/article-Sewing-up-the-deal |accessdate = August 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181706/http://clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25322373/article-Sewing-up-the-deal |archivedate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>
== History == thumb|upright|C.L. Hardwick, founder of Hardwick Clothes thumb|left|Old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory building in Cleveland, Tennessee The company started as Cleveland Woolen Mills, founded in 1880 in Cleveland, Tennessee, by C. L. Hardwick, John Craigmiles, John Parker, P.B. Mayfield and Creed Bates.<ref name = Daniels>{{cite web | last = Daniels | first = Karen L. | title = Hardwick Woolen Mills National Register of Historic Places Nomination | date = January 2001 | url = http://media.timesfreepress.com/docs/2008/02/cleveland_depot.pdf | accessdate = August 18, 2014}}</ref> Hardwick put his son George, in charge of the clothing company, while his son Joseph ran the family's other company, Hardwick Stove. The company achieved early success from weaving "jean cloth," a blend (76% wool, 24% cotton) that was crafted into a popular product known as "Dollar Pants."<ref name = Hill>{{cite web | last = Hill | first = Fletcher | title = Hardwick Clothes: The History | date = June 14, 2011 | url = http://seersuckerandtweeds.net/2011/06/14/127/ | accessdate = August 18, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812153111/http://seersuckerandtweeds.net/2011/06/14/127/ | archive-date = August 12, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Over the years, the company added modern machinery, and eventually Cleveland Woolen Mills evolved into a manufacturing plant, as well as a mill.<ref name = Hill /> In 1925, the name was changed to Hardwick Woolen Mills.<ref name=130thYear>{{cite news |title = Hardwick Clothes celebrates 130th year |newspaper = Cleveland Daily Banner |date = August 1, 2010 |url = http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/8957100/article-Hardwick-Clothes-celebrates-130th-year |accessdate = August 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101216104147/http://clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/8957100/article-Hardwick-Clothes-celebrates-130th-year |archivedate = December 16, 2010}}</ref> By the 1920s Hardwick Woolen Mills had expanded its operations, weaving the wool yarn and tailoring finished garments in the same factory. The integrated operation reflected the company motto: "From the sheep's back to the clothing rack." Among the many garments produced were men's suits, overcoats, knickers and boys' wear.<ref name = Hill />
Hardwick Mills survived the Great Depression as a cottage industry, with much of the sewing done in the homes of workers. Despite the poor economy, Hardwick Mills continued to grow during the 1930s. After the New Deal introduced labor laws regulating working hours, production moved back into the factory.<ref name = Hill />
For the first half of the 20th century, Hardwick Mills was one of the largest manufacturers of wool fabric and men's clothing in the world.<ref name = Daniels /> During World War II, Hardwick Mills manufactured uniforms for the military. After the war, the demand for wool decreased with the introduction of synthetic fabrics.<ref name = Hill />
In the 1950s, Hardwick Mills sold its woolen operations to focus on the men's tailored clothing market. During this time, the company rebranded itself as Hardwick Clothes, Inc. The company also ended its status as a private label and, for the first time, began to advertise. Hardwick soon became a leader in the market for blazers, boasting one of the largest in-stock blazer programs in the industry.<ref name = Hill />
In 1974, Hardwick Clothes moved from its original factory on Church Street to a modern 175,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant on the north side of Cleveland. The new facility allowed the company to modernize its equipment to remain competitive against overseas competition.<ref name = Hill /><ref name = 130thYear />
In the 21st century Hardwick expanded its base of specialty-store retailers with catalog and department store accounts. Its domestic clothing production has enabled the company to land contracts with organizations as diverse as the U.S. military and Major League Baseball umpires.<ref name = Hill /><ref name = 130thYear />
In 2001, the old Hardwick Woolen Mills factory was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref> {{cite encyclopedia | last = Biddle-Douglass | first = Teresa | title = Hardwick Stove Company | encyclopedia = The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture | publisher = Tennessee Historical Society | date = January 1, 2010 | url = http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=601 | accessdate = August 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = National Register of Historic Places, Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/09/01 through 4/13/01 | publisher = National Park Service | date = April 20, 2001 | url = https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2001-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf | access-date = August 18, 2014}}</ref>
== Recent history == In 2013, due to the struggling economy, Hardwick Clothes faced problems with creditors and an underfunded pension plan that covers more than 600 employees and retirees.<ref name = EllisSmith>{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Ellis | title = Payday lender Allan Jones to buy America's oldest suitmaker, Hardwick Clothes in Cleveland | newspaper = Chattanooga Times Free Press | date = June 7, 2014 | url = http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/07/payday-lender-allan-jones-to-buy-americas-oldest/ | accessdate = August 18, 2014}} </ref> The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation had demanded a payment of more than $7 million that coincided with the company's discontinuation of its pension plan due to a slowing of the marketplace. The payment was expected within days after the notice was received by Hardwick, causing the company to file for bankruptcy protection.<ref name = sewingUpTheDeal /><ref> {{cite news | last = Flessner | first = Dave | title = Agency denies pushing Cleveland, Tenn., company Hardwick Clothes into bankruptcy | newspaper = Chattanooga Times Free Press | date = December 7, 2013 | url = http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/dec/07/agency-denies-pushing-hardwick-into-bankruptcy/ | accessdate = August 18, 2014}}</ref>
In March 2014, Cleveland businessman W. Allan Jones made a $1.9 million offer to purchase the company, and on June 19, 2014, the sale was completed.<ref name = JonesMakesBid /><ref>{{cite news | last = Flessner | first = Dave | title = Allan Jones completes purchase of Hardwick Clothes | newspaper = Chattanooga Times Free Press | date = June 19, 2014 | url = http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/19/allan-jones-completes-purchase-hardwick-clothes/ | accessdate = August 18, 2014}}</ref> Jones owns a number of consumer financial services companies, such as Check Into Cash, Loan by Phone, U.S. Money Shops, Buy Here Pay Here USA, and LendingFrog.com.<ref name = EllisSmith />
Upon completion of the sale, Jones told the media, "Since that first day, the company has survived two major fires, two World Wars, the Great Depression, leisure suits, NAFTA and – worst of all – making us watch China manufacture our Olympic team's blazers." Jones also launched a new website for the company—Hardwick.com.<ref name = Bellusci>{{cite news | title = Bruce Bellusci Is New President of Hardwick Clothes; Company Gets New Flag | newspaper = Chattanoogan.com | date = July 23, 2014 | url = http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/7/23/280948/Bruce-Bellusci-Is-New-President-Of.aspx | accessdate = August 18, 2014}}</ref><ref name=celebrates134th>{{cite news |last = Graves |first = Brian |title = HC celebrates 134th: New CEO Bruce Bellusci joins manufacturer's spirited bash |newspaper = Cleveland Daily Banner |date = July 23, 2014 |url = http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25481505/article-HC-celebrates-134th--New-CEO-Bruce-Bellusci-joins--manufacturer-s-spirited-bash?|accessdate = August 18, 2014|url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140805042739/http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25481505/article-HC-celebrates-134th--New-CEO-Bruce-Bellusci-joins--manufacturer-s-spirited-bash |archivedate = August 5, 2014}}</ref>
In July 2014, Bruce Bellusci was named the new CEO/President, becoming the ninth CEO/President of Hardwick Clothes in the company's history. Bellusci worked at Hart Schaffner Marx for 34 years, serving as executive vice president since 2006. Bellusci made several notable hires within his first few months, including several salesmen and the VP of Technical Design, Jeffery Diduch, from the Hart Schaffner Marx organization. Diduch now serves as Hardwick Clothes Chief Creative Officer where he oversees all design, technical development, and creative direction for the brand. The company also announced it will be flying over its factory the original 38-star American flag from 1880, the year it was founded.<ref name = Bellusci /><ref name = celebrates134th />
Jones told the media in 2015 that he would help the stable southern workforce at Hardwick to reach new levels of productivity by purchasing state-of-the-art German and Italian automation technology. Jones said the addition of the technology would make Hardwick the most modern sewing operation of its kind in the United States.<ref name = JonesTech>{{cite news| title = WOOP Special Report – Hardwick Getting New Technology| newspaper = WOOP FM| date = May 5, 2015| url = http://woopfm.com/hardwick/hardwicktechnology.htm| accessdate = September 8, 2015| archive-date = March 4, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082126/http://woopfm.com/hardwick/hardwicktechnology.htm| url-status = dead}}</ref>
On December 15, 2019, Puerto Rican Industries for the Blind acquired Hardwick Clothes.<ref name = Chattanoogan>{{cite news| title = Allan Jones Sells Hardwick Clothes; Major Hirings Expected| newspaper = The Chattanoogan| date = December 15, 2019| url = https://www.chattanoogan.com/2019/12/15/401147/Allan-Jones-Sells-Hardwick-Clothes.aspx| accessdate = December 15, 2019}}</ref>
==See also== *Hartmarx *Oxxford Clothes *Paul Stuart *Hickey Freeman *Brooks Brothers *J. Press
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://hardwick.com/ Official Website]
Category:Suit makers Category:Companies based in Tennessee Category:Companies established in 1880 Category:Buildings and structures in Bradley County, Tennessee Category:Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee Category:National Register of Historic Places in Bradley County, Tennessee Category:Companies based in Cleveland, Tennessee Category:Manufacturing_companies_based_in_Tennessee Category:1880 establishments in Tennessee