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{{Short description|Australian work clothing brand}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox company
|name             = KingGee
|logo             =
|type             =
|genre            =
|foundation       = {{Start date and age|1985}}
|founder          =
|location_city    = [[Sydney]], Australia
|location_country =
|location         =   <!--modifies "Headquarters" entry-->
|key_people       =
|area_served      =
|industry         = [[Workwear]]
|products         = [[Shoes]], [[apparel]],
|services         =
|revenue          =
|operating_income =
|net_income       =
|num_employees    =
|parent           =
|divisions        =
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|owner            =
|caption           =
|homepage         = {{URL|https://www.kinggee.com/}}
|dissolved        =
}}
'''KingGee''' (formerly known as '''King Gee''') is an Australian [[work wear]] brand. The name is said to have originated from the reigning monarch at the time, [[George V|King George V]], and was an expression that meant 'tops' or 'the best'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joseflebovicgallery.com/pages/books/CL171-121/king-gee-shorts|title=King Gee Shorts on Josef Lebovic Gallery|last=www.bibliopolis.com|website=Josef Lebovic Gallery|accessdate=11 January 2018}}</ref> It was established in [[Sydney]] in 1926 by Robert Adcock. The brand initially produced [[Overall|overalls]], but has since grown its products to supply a large range of work wear (including Workcool and Tradies ranges), footwear and accessories.<ref name="bondiwear.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.bondiwear.com/historical-manufacturer-no-4-kinggee/|title=Historical manufacturer no. 4: KingGee - bondiwear|date=14 July 2014|publisher=|accessdate=11 January 2018}}</ref>
== History ==
In March 1926, a trade mark application for King Gee was successfully made  by Robert Adcock of [[Concord, New South Wales|Concord]] in [[Sydney]]. The trademark was to cover "articles of clothing, including overalls".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160001910|title=TRADE MARK APPLICATIONS.|date=12 May 1926|newspaper=[[Daily Commercial News And Shipping List]]|accessdate=5 January 2018|issue=11,779|location=New South Wales, Australia|page=8 (Weekly Summary.)|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
After its conception, the brand took off and grew to supply the uniforms for the defense services during [[World War II|World War Two]].<ref name="bondiwear.com"/>
In the final six months of 2008, King Gee owner Pacific Brands posted a net loss of $150 million. Following this, in February 2009, 74 workers were retrenched at the Bellambi factory in New South Wales. Citing difficult economic conditions, all manufacturing was moved overseas.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/pac-brands-exits-australian-manufacturing-20090225-8hei.html | title=Pac Brands exits Australian manufacturing | date=24 February 2009 }}</ref>
KingGee was acquired by [[Pacific Brands]], then later was bought by [[Wesfarmers]] as part of the Workwear Group in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/pacific-brands-sells-hard-yakka-stubbies-and-kinggee-to-wesfarmers-in-180m-deal/news-story/55bcd4652446a06f350daafd7cdc0890|title=PacBrands sells Hard Yakka to Wesfarmers|date=26 August 2014|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>
==See also ==
*[[Steel Blue Work Boots|Steel Blue]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.kinggee.com/}}
{{Wesfarmers}}
[[Category:Australian companies established in 1926]]
[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1926]]
[[Category:Clothing brands of Australia]]
[[Category:Wesfarmers]]
[[Category:Workwear]]