Many of us buy the products, but we rarely know the person who designs those products. While most can tell a tale that is quite similar to the vast majority of other designers, Hugo Boss is one who has a story that is quite unique.
The Darker Side of the Story
Hugo Boss began his design business in 1923 when he created his first clothing company. That company, in Metzingen, Germany, is still around today. Boss started the company with two other partners, but the poverty and deep depression going on in Germany lead to bankruptcy.
By 1931, it looked like his design career was over, but the rise of the Nazi party gave him an opportunity to reinvigorate his career. He soon became the primary designer for Nazi uniforms and by 1936 he had one of the largest garment manufacturing businesses in Germany.
This was a sordid time in the design makers life. Not only was he designing clothes for the Nazis, but many who worked within his factories were forced to do so. As many as 120 women and 40 French captives were forced into labor camps during the war.
Time to Rebuild
Following the war a ban was instituted against any business run by Hugo Boss. Thus, his son-in-law took over ownership of the company and it took five years before he would begin to rebuild it.
Clothing was still the focus of the company early on, but by the 1980s they began to dabble in other products. This included the creation of a number of fragrances with the original designer’s name. Soon it was sunglasses, watches, and other accessories.
This has become one of the largest companies in the world in terms of fashion design, as their products are sold across the globe and in all of the major retailers. Products are made for both men and women, and have moved away from the original focus on uniform and work-related close.
While there are amazing suits for any business professional, Hugo Boss products are geared for the active person, providing a number of golf, sports, and other athletic garments. The introduction of watches, colognes, tie clips and other types of accessories have expanded the business into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.
Products are made in several different countries, including such places as Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, and can be found in retailers and websites such as https://swedishface.co.uk/hugo-boss. What was once a small shop that had just six sewing machines has become one of the largest garment and clothing accessory companies in the world.