A cartoon illustration of Mickey Mouse with a white background and red text.
©Walt Disney Enterprises
After the initial success of Steamboat Willie in 1928, Walt Disney created new partnerships to sell merchandise of his characters. His first major partnership, in 1932, was a 50/50 split with ad-man Herman "Kay" Keman. Keman licensed Mickey Mouse for a variety of products including home goods, toys, and clothing, to be sold nationwide through department stores and mail-order catalogs. Childrens' socks and stockings were branded as "Mickey Mouse Hose" and were offered in different sizes, lengths, and colors. Mickey Mouse Hose had imagery of Mickey Mouse on the heel, toe, or cuff. Some designs were reproduced in the 1970s or 1980s.
Gluck, K. (2012, June 8). Selling Mickey: The rise of disney marketing. The Walt Disney Family Museum. https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/selling-mickey-rise-disney-marketing