Bonds (company)

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Bonds is an Australian manufacturer of men's, women's and children's underwear and clothing. It is a popular mid-range brand. Its trademark Chesty Bond is recognised by many Australians as a popular national icon. The manufacturer is part of Pacific Brands.

Bonds was established in 1915 by Mr James A. Bond, an American who came to Australia in the early twentieth century. He started importing women's hosiery and gloves. In 1917 he began manufacturing hosiery in Redfern, Sydney. From 1918 he moved to Camperdown and began also making underwear. In 1932, Bond built Australia’s first cotton spinning mill at Wentworthville in western Sydney.^[1]

The company went into liquidation in 1929 and a public company, Bonds Industries Limited was established. In 1970 the company merged with Coats Paton Pty Ltd. In 1987 the company was taken over by Pacific Dunlop. In 2001 the company was sold to form a separate entity, ‘Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd’. At that time also the spinning mill was closed. In 2004 Pacific Brands Limited was listed as a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and New Zealand Stock Market (NZX). ^[1]

In 2006, Bonds manufactures 40% of its goods in Australia at three sites in New South Wales: Cessnock, Unanderra and Wentworthville. The factories produce nearly 17 million garments a year and employ 295 full time staff.^[2]