Lexi Webster
Bonds is an Australian manufacturer of men's, women's, and children's underwear, socks, and other clothing. It was founded in 1915 by George Allan Bond, an American who immigrated to Australia in the early 20th century. The company was initially started as a women's hosiery importer, and over the years, it expanded its product line and became a beloved Aussie brand. However, in recent times, Bonds has changed hands and is no longer Australian-owned. Despite this, it remains an iconic brand in Australia, known for its comfortable and colourful clothing, and has even expanded internationally, launching in the US market in 2025 with a campaign celebrating Aussie culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current ownership | Hanesbrands |
| Previous ownership | Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Year founded | 1915 |
| Founder | George Allan Bond |
| Founder's nationality | American |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia |
| Product range | Men's, women's, and children's underwear, socks, and other clothing |
| Retail presence | Online store, 14 physical stores in Australia |
| Export markets | New Zealand, Canada, United States, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR China, United Kingdom |
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What You'll Learn
Bonds was founded in 1915 by American George Allan Bond
Bonds is currently a subsidiary of Hanesbrands, an importer of men's, women's, and children's underwear, socks, and other clothing. Its head office is located in Kew, Melbourne.
The company was founded in 1915 by American George Allan Bond, who moved to Australia in the early 20th century. Bond started the company in Sydney as a small importer of women's hosiery and gloves. In 1917, he began manufacturing hosiery in Redfern, Sydney. The following year, he moved to Camperdown and started making underwear. In 1923, Bond's company established a cotton-spinning mill in Wentworthville, western Sydney, with imported machinery costing £150,000. The mill began operating in October 1923.
Bonds has played a significant role in Australian history. For instance, it provided Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm with warm undergarments for their record-setting flight across the Pacific in 1928. Additionally, the company dressed 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Bonds has also shown long-standing support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, raising funds and awareness for early breast cancer detection and research.
In terms of its ownership, Bonds has undergone several changes since its founding. In 1987, the company was taken over by Pacific Dunlop. In 2001, it was sold again to form Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd, and the spinning mill was closed. Pacific Brands Limited was listed as a public company on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges in 2004. By 2006, Bonds manufactured 40% of its goods in Australia across three sites in New South Wales. However, in 2010, Pacific Brands cut 1850 jobs and ceased manufacturing in Australia to reduce costs, causing public outrage. In 2016, Pacific Brands entered an agreement with Hanesbrands, and Bonds became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the latter.
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It was sold to HanesBrands in 2016 for $1.1 billion
Bonds is an Australian manufacturer of men's, women's, and children's underwear, socks, sleepwear, and babywear. It was founded in 1915 by American George Allan Bond, who started the company as a small importer of women's hosiery in Sydney. In 1917, Bond began manufacturing hosiery in Redfern, Sydney, and in 1918 he expanded his operations to include underwear. Over the years, the company changed hands several times, and in 2016, it was sold to HanesBrands for $1.1 billion.
Bonds has a rich history in Australia, dating back to its founding in 1915. It has become an iconic Australian brand, known for its underwear, sleepwear, and other clothing items. The brand is loved by Australians for its quality, comfort, and its role in Australian history. Bonds has sponsored many Australian initiatives, including the Nippers program for junior surf lifesaving teams, and has shown long-standing support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The brand also dressed 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In 2016, Bonds was acquired by HanesBrands, an American multinational clothing company. The acquisition was made for $1.1 billion, and as a result, Bonds became a wholly-owned subsidiary of HanesBrands. This sale marked a shift in ownership for the iconic Australian brand, which, after being started by an American, returned to US ownership after 101 years.
The sale of Bonds to HanesBrands was part of a larger trend of legendary Australian brands with long local histories being sold to foreign owners. This trend has sparked mixed reactions among Australians, with some celebrating the return of iconic brands to Australian ownership, while others express disappointment when beloved local brands are sold overseas.
Despite the change in ownership, Bonds has continued to operate as a prominent brand in Australia and has expanded its reach internationally. It has maintained its strong Australian identity, as reflected in its marketing campaigns, such as the "Made for Down Under" campaign, which showcases the brand's signature Aussie spirit and comfort. Bonds remains a beloved brand in Australia, offering a range of clothing and underwear for people of all ages.
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Bonds is an Australian icon, loved across the globe
Bonds is known for its range of comfortable and high-quality underwear, sleepwear, and clothing for men, women, and children. The brand has played a significant role in Australian history, including providing warm undergarments for Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm's record-setting flight across the Pacific in 1928. Bonds also dressed 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, showcasing its strong connection to the country's cultural and sporting events.
The brand has a unique and optimistic outlook that resonates with its Australian customer base and embodies the "work with each other" spirit. This community-centric approach is further demonstrated through Bonds' sponsorship of the Nippers program, supporting the future of surf lifesaving in Australia, and its long-standing partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
While Bonds has expanded its retail presence with physical stores in Australia and online shopping options, its products remain accessible to people from all walks of life, offering feel-good items at great value. The brand has also successfully ventured into international markets, including New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
Despite its foreign ownership, with American multinational clothing company HanesBrands acquiring Bonds in 2016, the brand remains an iconic symbol of Australia, cherished by Aussies for its comfort, quality, and its ability to capture the quintessential Aussie spirit.
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The company is headquartered in Melbourne
Bonds is an iconic Australian brand that has been trusted by Aussies for over a century. The company was founded in 1915 by George Allan Bond, an American who immigrated to Australia in the early 1900s. Bonds began as a small importer of women's hosiery and gloves in Sydney. Over the years, the company expanded its product line to include underwear, sleepwear, and clothing for men, women, and children.
Despite its Australian origins, Bonds is no longer Australian-owned. In 2016, the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanesbrands, an American multinational clothing company. Hanesbrands paid $1.1 billion to acquire Bonds from Pacific Brands, ending its status as an Australian-owned entity.
However, the head office of Bonds remains firmly rooted in Australia, specifically in Melbourne. The address of the head office is 115 Cotham Rd, Kew, Melbourne. This location serves as the nerve center for the company's operations, housing the administrative, marketing, and decision-making functions that guide the brand's strategy and direction.
The Melbourne headquarters of Bonds is a testament to the company's Australian heritage and its deep connection to the local community. Bonds has played a proud role in Aussie history, sponsoring significant events and supporting local organizations. For example, Bonds dressed 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has shown long-standing support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) in Australia.
By maintaining its headquarters in Melbourne, Bonds remains close to its Australian customer base and the unique culture that has shaped its brand identity. The company's slogan, "we don't work for each other, we work with each other," reflects the Aussie spirit of community and collaboration that Bonds embodies. This value system has been integral to the company's success and its ability to establish itself as an iconic Aussie brand, loved and trusted by generations of Australians.
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Bonds is known for its community involvement and sponsorship of Australian initiatives
Bonds, an Australian manufacturer and subsidiary of Hanesbrands, is known for its community involvement and sponsorship of Australian initiatives. The company was first set up in Sydney in 1915 by George Bond as a small importer of women's hosiery. Since then, Bonds has established itself as an Aussie icon, manufacturing a range of clothing, including underwear, sleepwear, and socks for men, women, and children.
Bonds has a proud history of supporting Australian initiatives and being involved in the community. The company has sponsored the Nippers program, recognising the importance of junior teams in the future of surf lifesaving in Australia. Bonds has also shown long-standing support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), raising funds and awareness for early breast cancer detection and research. Furthermore, Bonds played a role in Aussie history by providing warm undergarments to Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm during their record-setting flight across the Pacific in 1928. The company also dressed 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In addition to its historical involvement, Bonds continues to be an active participant in the Australian community. The company opened 14 physical stores across Australia between 2012 and 2013 and launched a successful online store in 2011, offering feel-good items at great value to people from all walks of life. Bonds has also partnered with Minus18, an organisation that supports LGBTQIA+ youth across Australia. Through this partnership, Bonds sponsored 400 LGBTQIA+ youth to attend the Queer Formal in Melbourne and Sydney, providing a safe space for these young people to be themselves.
Bonds' community involvement and sponsorship of Australian initiatives have helped establish the company as a beloved Aussie brand. With its culture based on the slogan "we don't work for each other, we work with each other," Bonds has become an iconic and trusted name in Australia and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Bonds is not Australian-owned. It was bought by American multinational clothing company HanesBrands in 2016 for $1.1 billion.
Bonds is owned by HanesBrands, an American multinational clothing company.
Bonds became a wholly-owned subsidiary of HanesBrands on 15 July 2016.
Before being acquired by HanesBrands, Bonds was owned by Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd, which was listed as a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) in 2004.
It is not explicitly stated why Bonds became owned by HanesBrands. However, one source mentions that the acquisition allowed PAG to expand its Australian offering.
