Do It All in Our Socks

White text on a brown background next to an illustration of legs wearing blue socks

Jedediah Bowen founded Ripon Knitting Works in Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1880. Ripon Knitting Works included a leather division and produced a variety of items including socks, hosiery, gloves, mittens, and baseball gloves. As many as 500 workers worked at Ripon when business was doing well. During World War II, Ripon provided materials for soldiers and received awards from the United States government for its support. Sales declined following the war, and Ripon Knitting Works permanently closed in 1970.