Big Smith Overalls probably need no introduction. Like the clothing the company produces, Big Smith is a brand which has proven durable; able to last the test of time, and a reliable source of high-quality protection. For over 100 years, Big Smith has supported painters and farmers, builders and carpenters, mechanics and technicians, alongside workers from a wide range of other industries by providing high-quality overalls which are as resilient as they are versatile. Yet, also like overalls, the Big Smith Brand has spent much of its life out of the limelight. It’s been an essential player, yet rarely gets much attention, preferring to work consistently in the background. This is our chance to take a deep dive into the history ofthe Big Smith Brand, and to get a better overall understanding of where our workwear comes from.
Humble beginnings
It might come as no surprise that the Big Smith Brand has humble beginnings. In 1916, the Smith family began to work together on a new venture. Starting in their small town of Carthage, Missouri, they began to produce and sell high-quality overalls, and quickly spread throughout the state. From this first, small-scale venture, the Big Smith Brand grew. Over the next half century, they established a reputation for producing overalls which were especially versatile, durable and comfortable. It’s by this reputation that they are still known today.
In 1971, the Smith family sold their company, and over the next thirty years, the brand experienced much of the change and upheaval that was felt across America. The Big Smith Brand and their overalls were bought and sold, had periods of great success and great decline, and changed hands many times. They were owned by numerous companies with numerous strategies and directions. At one stage, they even filed for bankruptcy.
Yet much like their overalls, the Big Smith Brand was quickly repaired, and by the start of the 21st century, came to settle in the company of some of the world’s most famous overall producers.
An overall success
In 2000, the Big Smith Brand was bought by Walls. Walls have been selling workwear of the highest quality since 1938, and were the go-to brand for American workers in the oil industry throughout the 20th Century. They have developed a staunch reputation for providing tough gear for the toughest workers, and their choice to incorporate Big Smith overalls into their line stands testament to their value.
The next evolutionary step for Big Smith overalls came in 2013. For most of the early 2000s, Walls and the Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co, better known as Dickies, had been fierce rivals. In 2013, Dickies bought Walls, creating a powerhouse, and an undisputed leader in the workwear industry.
Dickies is now the largest workwear manufacturer in the world, and sells their overalls in every US State, alongside countries across the globe. With their international fame, and their worldwide commitment to high-quality workwear, the Dickies family is the perfect place for Big Smith overalls to make their name known on a global scale.
Where are the overalls now?
If something isn’t broken, then why fix it? The Big Smith Brand first began selling their overalls in 1916, and continue to do so to this day. As in nature, so in business, and though Big Smith have experimented with different items of apparel throughout their history, it seems that their overalls were a perfect step in evolutionary design.
They now sell three main items in their range, the Rigid Indigo Denim Bib, the Stonewashed Denim Bib and the Hickory Stripe Bib. All are made to be durable, and versatile featuring triple-needle stitching, reinforced bar tacks placed at stress points in the material, and a variety of pockets, which include a 5 piece pocket bib on the chest, two hip pockets and several smaller specialist tools pockets. Both the Rigid Indigo and Stonewashed Denim are made from a heavyweight 11.05oz cotton denim, and the Hickory Stripe from a lighter 10oz cotton twill.
Between these three designs, the Big Smith Overall brand has covered all the bases, providing tough, resistant materials, high-level functionality, and a range of materials for increased comfort and mobility. Having spent over a century producing workwear that customers can trust, it is a pleasure but no surprise to learn that they are still doing so.
For many, there will be a familiar, and well worn pair of Big Smith overalls hanging in their closet, with a history as rich and varied as the brand itself. However, if you don’t yet own a pair of Big Smith overalls, and are looking to begin a story of your own, then the full range of Big Smith Overalls are available here.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.