1967 – Ralph Lauren establishes the Polo label with an instantly successful line of ties. In direct opposition to the narrow ties and conventional styles of the time, Lauren designs wide, handmade ties using unexpected, flamboyant, opulent materials. The ties quickly become a menswear status item. A tie was the way a man expressed himself. …
In just over four decades, WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund) has become one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. With almost five million supporters distributed throughout five continents, WWF has a global network active in over 90 countries and can safely claim to have played a major role …
BP is one of Britain’s biggest companies and one of the world’s largest oil and petrochemicals groups. BP owes its origin to one man, William Knox D’Arcy, who, shortly after the turn of the century, invested time, money and labour in the belief that worthwhile deposits of oil could be found in Persia (now known …
Necessity and ingenuity have long been driving forces behind the world’s great inventions, and the Hoover vacuum cleaner is no exception. The story begins in 1907. Murray Spangler, an inventor who worked nights as a janitor, was cleaning rugs in a Canton, Ohio, department store. But all the dust raised from his broom aggravated his …
K2 Inc. was founded in 1961 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner in Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington. K2 is known for pioneering fiberglass ski technology, which made skis significantly lighter and livelier than their wood and metal contemporaries. On June 22, 2006, K2 announced it was moving its business office from Vashon Island to …
The history of Nabisco starts in 1792, when Pearson & Sons Bakery opened in Massachusetts to make “pilot bread,” a tough and durable biscuit to sustain sailors on long journeys. Then, in 1801, the Josiah Bent Bakery baked their first biscuit other than pilot bread. They were called crackers because of the sound they made …