Charles E. Stanfield had no idea when he immigrated to America in 1855 that he would found the firm that is a leader in its field today. Charles, along with his brother-in-law Samuel E. Dawson, founded the Tryon Woolen Mills in Tryon, P.E.I. in 1856. Charles sold his interests to Samuel in 1866. Charles, after spending a year or so in Charlottetown, then left for Truro, Nova Scotia.

In 1870 Charles founded the Truro Woolen Mills (opposite the present railway station), which was believed to be the first factory of its kind in Canada. In succession, Charles built the St. Croix Woolen Mills at St. Croix, Nova Scotia...The Union Woolen Mills at Farnham...Truro Felt Works, near the Pictou crossing on Prince Street...finally locating at the present site on the banks of Salmon River in 1882.

Charles was a creative genius. He constantly developed new equipment and new products. He maintained a workshop in his barn behind his house on Dominion Street, where he spent all of his spare time. Charles developed and manufactured the first cardigan jackets and stockinettes in Canada. He introduced Canadians to heavy rib underwear and the famous "Drop Seat". He also manufactured sweater cloth and knitting yarn. In 1896 Charles sold his business to his two sons, John and Frank. The number of employees was seventeen. The number of customers was ninety-two.

The two brothers called their business the Truro Knitting Mills Limited. They decided to specialize in knitted merchandise. Their father thought they were crazy, but the boys felt if they were to be successful, they would need to develop a reputation in some specific field and a stable product base. Therefore, they discarded many of their father's sidelines.

John and Frank developed the famous "Shrink-proof Process" which was to make Stanfield's Underwear famous. The Yukon Klondike Trail of 1898 provided the Business with its first big break. Stanfield's "Unshrinkable" Underwear became a byword among the hardy sourdoughs of '98. The miner could find no substitute for the warm, heavy, woolly underwear made by the little Truro firm.

Stanfield's Limited was incorporated in 1906. The members of the original Board of Directors were John and Frank Stanfield; John Y. Payzant, President of the Bank of Nova Scotia; George S. Campbell and J. Walter Allison, Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia; T.G. McMullen, a Lumberman in the Truro area; and G.L. Fisher, Secretary-Treasurer of the Board. Mr. Fisher also served as Plant Superintendent until 1925.

In 1910 Stanfield's Limited bought out the Hewson Woollen Mills which was subsequently named the Amherst Woollen Mills. This Mill manufactured during World War I, wool blankets, knitting yarns and cloth. During World War I, up to 1,500 yards per day of cloth were knit at the Amherst Mill. World War I provided a major impetus for the expansion of the Firm. After the War John was appointed to the Senate.

Significant changes took place in the 1920's. In 1921 a peroxide process was developed to bleach underwear, rather than the sulphur process which left a distinct odour in the underwear. Also, Stanfield's began to carbonize wool in 1921. This process removed the sticks and burrs from the wool, producing a much softer fabric. During the twenties, Stanfield's started to produce its first line of cotton combinations. In 1926, Nova Silk was introduced and this marked the first venture into synthetics by Stanfield's. Rayon was used to produce ladies' undergarments.

In 1931 Frank Stanfield died. He had always been the active head of the business. He was MLA for Colchester from 1911 to 1929 and appointed Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in 1930. Frank had an excellent understanding of the underwear business and had an uncanny ability to surround himself with talented associates. In addition to being the "Boss" he conceived and organized the Acadia Trust Company and Central Agencies Ltd., two very successful firms which were sold in 1961. Frank shunned publicity but supported many community projects anonymously. He felt the firm had a very great responsibility to its employees. The basic company policy probably explains the fact that there has never been a work stoppage at Stanfield's.

In the late thirties, Stanfield's entered the Athletic Shirt (undershirt) and brief field and were one of the first to package these items in cellopane bags. Knit briefs began the slow and steady replacement of woven underwear. In the forties two piece winter underwear as we know it, and Thermal underwear in the fifties gradually took over the winter underwear market. These two trends were the building blocks that provided product growth over the years since that time.

In the early fifties, Stanfield's popularized in Canada the T-shirt and men's Polo Pyjama. After the Second World War, Stanfield's began the production of Boot Socks, which continues to this day. In the late fifties, Stanfield's were the first to produce circular knit Thermal underwear in Canada. Underwear continues to be a very significant part of our product base. It, too, has gone through major changes as the consumer market requires different products today. Fabrics, color and styling, in short fashion, are part of this change, as well as fabric content. Underwear, like everything else, is made to suit the person and the use and the activity that person is wearing the product for. In short, technology and fashion has hit underwear. Product groups such as X 20 ® and Polar-therm ® are direct results of technology and fashion.

Leadership today in product technology is not merely the product itself, although that is important. Such things as fabric texture, fabric content, color, product presentation, and styling are the key factors to product acceptance in the marketplace. Although sales of wool items are still a significant factor, cotton and cotton blend products dominate the present product line. In the sixties, synthetic yarns broke into the underwear field and for the future, easy-care blend garments will be the way. Stanfield's has kept pace with these developments by incorporating cotton blended synthetic garments in its product line. In the nineteen-eighties natural fibres have now recycled as being more popular again, having been pushed back in earlier years by blends. Stanfield's is following this trend by reintroducing many natural fibre, or highnatural fibre content, products to the marketplace. Cotton enjoys a significant position in underwear today. Technology of fabric knitting and finishing has permitted cotton to perform in washers and dryers, which was its biggest drawback in by-gone years.

Stanfield's is a specialist in underwear products. We will continue to invest in technology to keep abreast of all that is new and different in underwear. Our basic policy of "the best product at reasonable prices" is followed today as it was in the early years. Stanfield's has a long history of pride in its products, which we will build on as we move into the future.