Knickerbocker MFG. Co.

Knickerbocker is a factory born brand that came about in 2012 at the heels of what was left of a 60 year old manufacturing company by the name of Watman Headwear Corp. With the acquisition of their factory Knickerbocker picked up where they left off and journeyed down a new path. First established as a private label manufacturer they later introduced a label of our own.

Their goal was simple then and remains so today. They believe in transparency and sustainability. It is their responsibility to the consumer, to the environment and to the industry to operate in such manner. Often times they felt guilt ridden for bringing more clothes to the marketplace. Knickerbocker decided in the beginning that if we are going to have a go at this they need to do it in a way that thay can be proud of and to ultimately inspire others to do the same. Knickerbocker set out to build a community. They needed to be part of bringing together like-minded individuals who would challenge the industry’s status quo and support a movement towards responsible supply chain solutions around the world.

The factory served as their voice and became a platform for setting such standards. It was their lab so to speak. A place to design, learn from mistakes and nurture our brand’s foundation. From the voice of our workers to the sounds of our humming machines we garnered respect for the process and the people who are a part of that process. Outside of the factory they put initiatives in place and the research was done to make sure no corners were cut. To the best of our ability we made sure their supply chain partners shared a similar set of principles. Often it is difficult to track every raw material back to its uncut origin in such a highly intricate chain. With the information they have at hand let it be known that they stand behind their partners and their stance on sustainability as well.

Producing in America has always been a priority and a core value. Proud of where they come from. With this in mind they must also not lose site of our goal in having minimal negative impact on the environment, a strong standard for working conditions and creating sustainable product.

Over the past seasons Knickerbocker have made the effort to travel the world in search of new opportunities with factories and suppliers who we can confidently support. In their travels they have met factory owners and their workers with whom we have broke bread, shared beers and many laughs. With our new partners we plan to further develop Knickerbocker’s product offerings by introducing new textiles and production techniques.

Knickerbocker are pleased to continue the growth of our community and to introduce for the first time, ‘Made In Europe’ and in particular ‘Made In Portugal’. A decision based on their history in textile manufacturing, further progress in production development, skilled labor and sustainable methods, which in total contributes to a central supply chain that is much less harmful to the environment.

The ultimate goal will always remain being 100% ‘Made In America’. To work towards this they will do their best to champion more sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes along with the potential for greater product development capability here in america. Until then we will keep our production portfolio diversified.

As Knickerbocker grow beyond these walls their beginnings will continue to inform their decisions of today. They pledge to remain transparent for accountability’s sake and to keep our community inclusive rather than exclusive. Our modest belief is that man’s greatest challenge is to build something bigger than himself. To build something that genuinely means as much to others as it does to him and inspire others to do the same. Knickerbocker look forward to sharing the journey with you and welcome you to voice your thoughts and questions along the way.