Our Story

A brief history

A lot can happen in a century. We'd know. After all, it's been ninety-six years since George Bond, a guy with a lot of energy (and even more vision), first set up our company in Sydney. And with the help of thousands of people over the years, we've shaped ourselves into the Aussie icon we are today; a far cry from our early days as a small importer of women's hosiery.

From the get-go we've done things a little differently. We were never a company of uptight suits in a stuffy boardroom; but in our early years, a company with our own sports teams, a marching band, library and even a hairdresser. In fact, Australia's first industrial psychologists were also an important part of the Bonds family. And this approach to how we did things was all wrapped up nicely by our company slogan, coined by George himself; "We don't work for each other. We work with each other".

From small beginnings

It's these foundations that haven't just established a long-standing benchmark in truly great quality, but have let us play a proud role in Aussie history too. From providing Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm with warm undergarments as they made their record-setting flight across the Pacific in 1928, to dressing 120,000 volunteers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in iconic uniforms that were as vibrant as the games themselves.

We've come a long way over the last century to where we are today, making everything from shirts and socks to undies and hoodies . And although the next century's shaping up to be even more exciting than the last, one thing hasn't changed.

Over the years

1915 - Where it all began - Bonds is formed

1917 - We begin manufacturing at our Redfern pilot plant

1918 - We move to Mallett St, Camperdown

1920 - Bonds start producing the Men's Athletic Singlet, otherwise known as the iconic Chesty

1921 - 'Bonds' is officially trademarked

1923 - Our Wentworthville Spinning Mills are established

1928 - Bonds Industries Ltd is formed

1932 - We start producing the Bonds Baby Vest

1938 - Our Men's Athletic Singlet is remarked as the Bonds Chesty

1955 - Bonds starts making the Bonds Cottontails Full Brief

1962 - Bonds develops its first Baby Wondersuit

1964 - We become an official Olympic sponsor

1966 - The 'Keenies' , our first Hipster brief, is developed

1972 - The 100 Millionth Chesty is sold

1984 - Our iconic 'It's Gotta Be Bonds' advertising campaign is launched

1987 - Pacific Dunlop purchases Bonds

1990 - The Chesty clocks up 250 million sales.

1991 - Bonds produce the Bonds Bodysuit

1999 - Our Hipsters are relaunched

2000 - We provide the uniforms for the Sydney Olympic volunteers

2001 - Bonds Bras are launched

2001 - Sarah Murdoch becomes a Bonds Ambassador

2002 - Pat Rafter becomes a Bonds Ambassador

2003 - The Female Chesty is introduced

2004 - Our Hoodie is born

2008 - Our dance and performance tv ads hit the screens

2011 - We open our Bonds Online shop

2011 - Rachael Taylor becomes a Bonds Ambassador

2012 - We begin delivering to New Zealand, Canada, United States, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR China and the United Kingdom

2012 - Our very own Bonds Stores launch. Find your nearest Bonds store here.