The Kitchen Overall and Shirt Company: A Legacy of Growth and Innovation
Founded in 1911 by Charles E. Kitchen and Luther Whitaker, the Kitchen Overall and Shirt Company began as a modest operation in Brantford, Ontario. What started with just 20 employees and an annual turnover of $30,000 soon blossomed into a major player in Canada’s garment industry, leaving an enduring mark on the country’s industrial history. The company was first established on Dalhousie Street in a small jobbing house. In its early years, it focused on manufacturing overalls and work shirts, products that catered to the practical needs of a growing Canadian workforce. By 1913, the company had outgrown its original quarters and relocated to the Cockshutt Building on Queen Street, where operations expanded under new management after J. F. Kitchen acquired Whitaker’s interest. By 1918, the company’s growth required yet another move—this time to the former Buck Foundry building on West Street. The facility was remodelled to suit the needs of light manufacturing, providing better lighting and more space to accommodate its growing staff and machinery.
The company’s success was driven not only by organic growth but also by strategic acquisitions. Over the years, Kitchen Overall and Shirt Company absorbed two well-established firms, the Peabody Overall Company and the Leather Label Over-Haul Company of Windsor. These acquisitions allowed the company to broaden its product line while retaining the brands and trademarks that were already trusted by customers. In 1926, the company took over the Waterloo Shirt Company and relocated its operations to a building previously occupied by the Waddell Preserving Company on Clarence Street. This move allowed the company to integrate the production of separate-collar shirts, a product in high demand among railroad workers, into its operations.
A key factor in the company’s success was its investment in state-of-the-art equipment and manufacturing processes. By the 1920s, the company’s West Street plant operated 200 machines, a significant increase from the 45 machines used in its earlier Queen Street facility. Electric cutting knives, high-speed sewing machines, and a combination of electric and steam-pressing irons ensured both efficiency and high-quality production. This modernization enabled the company to meet growing demand while maintaining its commitment to quality—a principle reflected in its motto, “Quality above all.” The company’s reputation for excellence earned it contracts with top merchants across Canada, helping to solidify its position as an industry leader.
From its modest beginnings, the Kitchen Overall and Shirt Company experienced extraordinary growth. By 1927, it employed 200 workers at its main plant and maintained a sales force of 20 representatives who marketed its products from coast to coast. The company’s turnover skyrocketed from $30,000 in 1911 to an impressive $800,000 by the late 1920s, reflecting the demand for its durable and high-quality garments. This growth coincided with Canada’s economic prosperity and increasing immigration, which created a larger market for workwear and related products. With demand continuing to rise, the company remained focused on innovation and efficiency, ensuring it could meet the needs of its expanding customer base. Following the death of Charles E. Kitchen in a tragic car accident in 1927, the company continued to thrive under new leadership. In the early 1960s, it was rebranded as Kitchen-Peabody Garments Limited, reflecting its earlier acquisition of the Peabody Overall Company. The company maintained its reputation for quality and reliability, becoming an integral part of Canada’s garment industry. In 1968, the Great Western Garment Company (GWG) acquired control of Kitchen-Peabody, further expanding its reach. By 1980, Levi Strauss Canada Inc. purchased GWG’s Brantford operations, including the plants on Edward and Elgin Streets. In 1981, operations were consolidated at 70 Easton Road, which became the finishing center for Levi clothing manufactured across Canada.
The factory at 70 Easton Road remained a vital part of Levi Strauss Canada’s operations until March 2004, when it, along with other Canadian plants, was closed. This marked the end of a remarkable era for a company that had been a cornerstone of Brantford’s industrial economy for nearly a century. Despite its closure, the Kitchen Overall and Shirt Company left a lasting legacy. From its innovative beginnings to its strategic growth and modernization, the company exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit that defined Brantford’s industrial success. Its contributions to the Canadian garment industry, and its commitment to quality and excellence, remain an important part of the city’s rich history.
References
https://history-api.brantfordlibrary.ca/Document/View/c35a2046-4306-441e-ab2f-3fade46ce2f3
Brantford Expositor. (1927). Brantford Expositor, Semi-Centennial Edition, 1877-1927 (Commemorative Newspapers). Brantford. Public Domain.