OshKosh BGosh began as Grove Manufacturing in 1895. The company was founded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin as the producer of rugged work coveralls for farmers and railroad laborers. One year later, the company changed its name to Oshkosh Clothing, and in 1937, the owner changed the name again, to OshKosh BGosh, after hearing it in a vaudeville skit. The company remained a producer of work clothes until the 1960s, when they entered the childrens marketplace somewhat accidentally (History). In 1962, the company offered its first pair of childrens overalls for sale in a national catalog. Sales response was phenomenal with more than 15,000 orders pouring in. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chairman Charles Fritz Hyde began a direct mail campaign to childrens specialty stores. By 1975, OshKosh began producing their childrens overalls in bright colors and stripes, and was quickly picked up by major department stores such as Macys and Bloomingdales (History).
