| Hugo Boss started out as a small workshop in | | | | shareholders). By 1987, the company was grossing |
| Metzingen, Germany. Founded in 1923, and named | | | | $500 million per annum. |
| after its founder, it claimed a controversial spot in | | | | A big portion of the company was sold to the |
| history; having produced the Nazi SS uniforms and | | | | Japanese Leyton Group in 1989, although the Holy |
| utilizing forced labor from France and Poland in World | | | | brothers remained active in the management process. |
| War II, when uniforms were in great demand. | | | | Three years later, they resigned whilst retaining |
| The company started out with industrial worker suits, | | | | designer stores in Munich and Stuttgart under the Hugo |
| uniforms and raincoats. Boss died in 1948 and | | | | Boss Company. Marzotto became a major |
| grandsons Uwe and Jochen Holy took over and | | | | shareholder in 1991 and hired Peter Littmann as the |
| geared it towards the more promising path of | | | | new CEO. In response to the economic recession, two |
| menswear. The company released its very first suit | | | | more labels were added namely Hugo - for the young |
| design for men in 1953. | | | | and hip professional, and Baldessarini - for the classy |
| Competition was stiff in the German market in the | | | | top executive. Within a year, profits increased up to |
| 1960s so the brothers decided to create men's suits in | | | | 74% and the company further expanded to the |
| colorful hues made from durable, quality fabrics by | | | | Southeast Asian region. In 1997, the company promised |
| Gaenslen & Voelter. Over the decade, Hugo Boss | | | | to reimburse to slave laborers post World War I. |
| bested other companies by introducing trendier suits | | | | Littmann was succeeded by chief designer and |
| made of light Italian fabric, in contrast to the traditional | | | | marketing manager Werner Baldessarini in 1998. This |
| German suits that were made of rigid and heavy ones. | | | | was also the time that the company started to design |
| Boss pioneered product export during the 70s, | | | | and launch lifestyle accessories and its very first |
| conquering Western Europe first, then the Atlantic and | | | | collection of women's wear. Over the years, the |
| finally, the United Sates in 1976. The high-priced line | | | | company introduced more labels, including the more |
| instantly gained acceptance in America, as popularized | | | | casual Boss Golf and Boss Sport lines, and Boss Black |
| by renowned figures such as Sylvester Stallone, Bjorn | | | | Selection. In 1999, another line - the sporty Boss |
| Borg and the Miami vice cops. By the 80's, the | | | | Orange - was successfully launched. |
| company had already passed the DM 100 million sales | | | | At present Hugo Boss remains a subsidiary of |
| mark. | | | | Marzotto S.p.A., under the Valentino Fashion Group, |
| The company made another remarkable turn in 1984 | | | | which owns a 50% share in the firm. It remains to be |
| when it launched its first fragrance along with | | | | one of the world's top fashion lines, with Germany |
| affordable casual wear like sweaters and sports | | | | being its leading consumer and the United States as |
| jackets. A year later, the company went public and | | | | the second. It holds more than 350 franchise shops in |
| renamed itself Hugo Boss AG (Aktiengesellschaft, | | | | over 90 countries around the world. |
| which is German for a corporation that is owned by | | | | |