Kayser-Roth
An American underwear and hosiery manufacturer whose North American portfolio includes No Nonsense, Hue, and Burlington.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kayser-Roth Corporation is an American manufacturer and marketer of underwear, hosiery, socks, and related apparel. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, the company operates as a subsidiary of Italy's Golden Lady Company and currently markets three owned brands in North America: No Nonsense, Hue, and Burlington. The company's roots extend to Julius Kayser & Co., an earlier business associated with hosiery, lingerie, and gloves. The modern Kayser-Roth organization was formed in 1958 when Julius Kayser & Co. acquired the Chester H. Roth Company. Alfred P. Slaner became the first head of the combined business and helped develop Supp-Hose hosiery, an early example of the company's effort to combine functional support with mass-market hosiery. Kayser-Roth expanded through acquisitions during the 1960s. In 1962 it acquired Interwoven, a hosiery company whose brand continued in use before being combined with Esquire in 1971 to create Interwoven-Esquire. In 1968 Kayser-Roth merged with Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co., adding the Bostonian shoe brand to its holdings. The company also explored a merger with Penn Central Transportation Company in the same year, although the parties did not reach an agreement. A major consumer-brand development came in 1973 with the introduction of No Nonsense. Created to compete with L'eggs, the brand was among the early hosiery labels distributed through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores rather than relying primarily on traditional apparel outlets. This helped position Kayser-Roth within the expanding mass retail channel. No Nonsense later broadened beyond hosiery into bras, panties, sleepwear, women's and men's socks, and foot-comfort products. In 1975, Gulf+Western Industries acquired Kayser-Roth. During this period, the company improved manufacturing facilities in Ontario and Quebec and experimented with businesses outside apparel, including automotive components. The reference material states that Kayser-Roth components were installed in almost every General Motors automobile produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s, illustrating the breadth of the company's activities at that time. Kayser-Roth entered the designer apparel space in 1984 by acquiring the women's underwear division of Calvin Klein Industries and obtaining the right to use the Calvin Klein name for that business. Gulf+Western subsequently began selling its non-entertainment operations, and Kayser-Roth was sold to the Wickes Companies in 1985. Grupo Synkro, a Mexican hosiery manufacturer, acquired the company in 1993 for approximately $230 million; that financial figure is reported in the cited reference but is not independently detailed here. Golden Lady, described in the reference material as Europe's largest hosiery manufacturer, acquired Kayser-Roth from Grupo Synkro in 1999 and reorganized the business. Under Golden Lady ownership, Kayser-Roth continued to focus on accessible hosiery and intimate apparel, with its North American business organized around No Nonsense, Hue, and Burlington. In April 2011, the company entered a partnership under which it became the exclusive distributor of Jockey International socks and hosiery. Kayser-Roth remains an operating apparel subsidiary, although detailed current financial, executive, and production data are not identified in the supplied sources.
History
Kayser-Roth developed from Julius Kayser & Co., an earlier manufacturer of hosiery, lingerie, and gloves. In 1958, that business acquired the Chester H. Roth Company, creating the Kayser-Roth organization. Alfred P. Slaner served as the first head of the merged company and developed Supp-Hose hosiery. The company expanded during the 1960s through acquisitions and brand combinations. It bought Interwoven hosiery in 1962 and retained the Interwoven name until the brand was combined with Esquire in 1971. In 1968, Kayser-Roth merged with Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co., acquiring the Bostonian shoe brand. It also considered a merger with Penn Central Transportation Company that year, but negotiations did not produce an agreement. In 1973, Kayser-Roth introduced No Nonsense to compete with L'eggs. The brand was notable for its broad distribution through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores, helping hosiery become more accessible through mass retail. Gulf+Western Industries acquired Kayser-Roth in 1975. Under Gulf+Western, the company invested in Canadian manufacturing facilities, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, and diversified into automotive components. The supplied reference reports that Kayser-Roth components were used in almost every General Motors automobile produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kayser-Roth acquired the women's underwear division of Calvin Klein Industries in 1984 and obtained use of the Calvin Klein name for the division. Gulf+Western's subsequent retreat from non-entertainment businesses led to a sale of Kayser-Roth to the Wickes Companies in 1985. Grupo Synkro acquired the company in 1993 in a transaction reported at about $230 million. Golden Lady Company acquired Kayser-Roth from Grupo Synkro in 1999 and reorganized the business. During the 2000s, No Nonsense broadened its product range to include bras, panties, sleepwear, women's and men's socks, and foot-comfort products. In April 2011, Kayser-Roth became the exclusive distributor of Jockey International socks and hosiery. The company currently operates as a Golden Lady subsidiary and markets No Nonsense, Hue, and Burlington in North America.
- 2011
Jockey distribution partnership
[1]Kayser-Roth became the exclusive distributor of Jockey International socks and hosiery.
- 1999
Golden Lady acquisition
[1]Golden Lady Company acquired Kayser-Roth from Grupo Synkro and reorganized it.
- 1993
Grupo Synkro acquisition
[1]Grupo Synkro purchased Kayser-Roth in a transaction reported at approximately $230 million.
- 1985
Sale to Wickes Companies
[1]Kayser-Roth was sold by Gulf+Western to the Wickes Companies.
- 1984
Calvin Klein underwear division acquired
[1]Kayser-Roth acquired Calvin Klein Industries' women's underwear division and associated naming rights.
- 1975
Gulf+Western ownership begins
[1]Gulf+Western Industries acquired Kayser-Roth.
- 1973
No Nonsense introduced
[1]Kayser-Roth launched No Nonsense as a mass-retail hosiery brand.
- 1971
Interwoven-Esquire combination
[1]Interwoven was combined with Esquire to form Interwoven-Esquire.
- 1962
Interwoven acquisition
[1]Kayser-Roth acquired Interwoven hosiery and continued using the brand.
- 1958
Formation of Kayser-Roth
[1]Julius Kayser & Co. acquired the Chester H. Roth Company, forming the Kayser-Roth organization.
Products and positioning
Mass-market hosiery, socks, underwear, and related apparel distributed through mainstream retail channels in North America.
Hosiery and intimate apparel · 1973
No Nonsense
No Nonsense was launched in 1973 as a mass-market hosiery label distributed through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores. Its range later expanded beyond hosiery to bras, panties, sleepwear, women's and men's socks, and foot-comfort products. It remains one of Kayser-Roth's principal North American owned brands.
Hosiery and socks
Hue
Hue is one of the three owned brands that Kayser-Roth currently markets in North America. The supplied reference identifies it as part of the company's hosiery and sock portfolio, but does not provide further product-level or launch details.
Hosiery and socks
Burlington
Burlington is one of Kayser-Roth's owned North American brands. It is marketed within the company's hosiery and sock business; the supplied reference does not specify its launch date or detailed assortment.
Support hosiery
Supp-Hose
Supp-Hose was a support-hosiery product developed under Alfred P. Slaner's leadership after the formation of Kayser-Roth. It represents an early product associated with the merged company's functional hosiery development.
Hosiery · 1971
Interwoven-Esquire
Interwoven-Esquire was the name used after Kayser-Roth combined its Interwoven hosiery brand with Esquire in 1971. The product line illustrates the company's use of brand consolidation during its acquisition-led expansion.
Footwear
Bostonian
Bostonian entered Kayser-Roth's portfolio through the 1968 merger with Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co. It was a shoe brand rather than a hosiery line and reflects the company's historical diversification into footwear.
Brand decisions
2011
Exclusive Jockey distribution agreementStrategyBackground
Kayser-Roth and Jockey International partnered to extend the distribution of Jockey-branded socks and hosiery.
Action taken
Kayser-Roth became Jockey International's exclusive distributor for socks and hosiery.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened Kayser-Roth's distribution role beyond its owned North American brands.
1999
Golden Lady acquisition and reorganizationM&ABackground
Golden Lady sought to expand its hosiery operations through the acquisition of Kayser-Roth from Grupo Synkro.
Action taken
Golden Lady acquired Kayser-Roth and reorganized the company within its hosiery group.
Aftermath
Kayser-Roth continued as a Golden Lady subsidiary serving the North American market.
1973
Launch of No NonsenseProduct launchBackground
Kayser-Roth sought to compete with L'eggs and reach consumers through rapidly expanding mass-retail channels.
Action taken
The company introduced No Nonsense hosiery and distributed it through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores.
Aftermath
No Nonsense became a major Kayser-Roth consumer brand and later expanded into broader intimate-apparel and sock categories.
Recent events
- 2011
Kayser-Roth becomes exclusive Jockey socks and hosiery distributor[1]
Other
In April 2011, Kayser-Roth partnered with Jockey International to become the exclusive distributor of Jockey socks and hosiery.
- 1999
Golden Lady acquires Kayser-Roth[1]
M&A
Italian hosiery manufacturer Golden Lady purchased Kayser-Roth from Grupo Synkro and reorganized the company.
- 1993
Grupo Synkro acquires Kayser-Roth[1]
M&A
Mexican hosiery manufacturer Grupo Synkro acquired Kayser-Roth in a transaction reported at approximately $230 million.
- 1985
Kayser-Roth sold to Wickes Companies[1]
M&A
Gulf+Western's divestment of non-entertainment businesses resulted in the sale of Kayser-Roth to the Wickes Companies.
- 1984
Kayser-Roth acquires Calvin Klein women's underwear division[1]
M&A
Kayser-Roth acquired Calvin Klein Industries' women's underwear division and the use of the Calvin Klein name for that business.
- 1975
Gulf+Western acquires Kayser-Roth[1]
M&A
Conglomerate Gulf+Western Industries purchased Kayser-Roth, beginning a period that included manufacturing investment and diversification beyond apparel.
- 1973
Kayser-Roth launches No Nonsense hosiery brand[1]
Product launch
Kayser-Roth introduced No Nonsense as a mass-market hosiery brand intended to compete with L'eggs and distributed through supermarkets, drugstores, and discount department stores.
Kayser-Roth expands No Nonsense into broader apparel categories[1]
Product generation
During the 2000s, No Nonsense expanded from hosiery into bras, panties, sleepwear, women's and men's socks, and foot-comfort products.
Sources1 sources
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