Jockey International, Inc. was founded in 1876 by Samuel T. Cooper, a retired minister who wanted to help lumberjacks suffering from blisters and infections caused by their shoddy wool socks. Consumers learned they could trust him, and his tiny hosiery business grew and expanded into underwear. Almost 140 years later, the privately held global company expanded from underwear and socks to other apparel categories including: activewear, shapewear, sportswear, & sleepwear.