Laying strong foundations...

It all started back in 1952, when Poul Larsen launched Kansas work wear from a factory that had already won praise for its treatment of workers and working conditions since 1920. It was from this strong foundation and belief that workers should be respected for what they do, that Kansas work wear was built upon. It was work wear designed with the worker in mind.  And this was work wear with style, something that had never been seen before. Made in pure cotton, offering five designs in three, now classic, colours, the products were popular with workers and the companies that employed them. Proud and passionate about their product, the KANSAS name was promoted in a massive advertising campaign across Denmark, in a variety of media including newspapers and cinemas. Success swiftly followed.

Sales increased throughout the following two decades, and KANSAS quickly became the name at the forefront of work wear.  Kansas was innovative - constantly developing and including new fabrics, functions and a focus on quality. The reward?  Outstanding consumer loyalty and a network of dedicated KANSAS distributors who ensured the company’s growing popularity throughout Europe.  Outgrowing its premises in the 70’s, Poul Larsen and his workforce packed up and moved to a newly constructed factory in Odense, not far from Kansas’ home today.

Building a brand...

Brick by brick, challenge by challenge, success by success, Kansas have continued to build their brand ever since.  When things got tough in the 70’s, with Poul Larsen’s death in ’72 and the economic crisis in Denmark for two decades, Kansas was hit as hard as the Danish companies it supplied. Financial challenges followed, customers were lost but a renewed sense of identity was found.  KANSAS was a brand that was unafraid of hard work, and as resilient and hard working as the workers they clothed.

Constructing a future...

Strong foundations, and a strong brand presence ensured Kansas’ survival.  The people behind the name, the Kansas workforce, strived to combine their skills to develop a successful strategy that moved with the times and saw Kansas making a fantastic debut in ’84 as a listed company.  Since then, Kansas has expanded internationally, acquiring the renowned Fristads work wear manufacturer and merging with Wenaas ASA of Norway and the Ehco-KLM of the Netherlands.

Ultimately culminating in the Kwintet group and subsequently purchased by investment bankers Industri Kapital in 2005, creating the largest work wear group in Europe. Innovation, intelligent design and an intuitive understanding of workers and their needs ensures that new product lines are constantly being developed with pride and passion constructing a future for work wear with workers in mind, worldwide.