Dolfin

ANCHORED IN RICH AMERICAN HISTORY

1941

The company was founded in Shillington, Pennsylvania as Reading Airchutes, Inc. to manufacture cargo parachutes for the U.S. Air Force and was one of their main suppliers of cargo and bomb parachutes throughout World War II.

1945

The company reorganized at the conclusion of World War II as Jean Vernon, Inc. which became a manufacturer of silk and nylon lingerie.

1958

Due to the companies expertise in the lingerie business and their work with nylon and nylon blended fabrics the company designed and launched a line of nylon racing suit for the competitive swim market under the trade name ”Dolfin”.

1962

Jean Vernon introduced a line of lightweight track uniforms.

1962 – 1968

Dolfin’s rapidly expanding competitive swimwear and track wear resulted in a de-emphasizing of the Jean Vernon lingerie business.

1969

The company changes its name to Dolfin Corporation and discontinued the Jean Vernon line of lingerie to focus on the swimwear and trackwear lines.

1970 – 1977

The majority of Dolfin’s business remained in the competitive swim market, however the line of track uniforms became a leader in this limited market.

1978

Running/fitness market exploded and Dolfin was positioned as the leading manufacturer of track clothing.

1980 – 1983

Dolfin running and fitness soared into a nationwide phenomenon due to a unisex 2 ply tricot short in solids and candy stripes.

1983

The Thomas H. Lee Company buys the company shortly before the fad begins to end and sales of the block-buster product go into a rapidly declining free fall. Lee hires J. Korth and B. McElroy to run the business and restore the competitive swimwear business and expand the track business.

1986 – 1987

The Thomas H. Lee company breaks into 2 companies and divides up the companies they own and offers management the opportunity to purchase Dolfin Corporation, which is done in 2007 with the name being changed to Dolfin International Corporation. Dolfin establishes international presence.

1989

Dolfin purchases a building and combines all manufacturing and warehousing.

1987 - 2008

Dolfin maintains a small position in track while establishing a niche position in the large volume competitive swimwear market. In the early 2000s, Dolfin launched what has become the #1 selling practice suit in America called Uglies.

1994

The Aquashape brand hit the market originally under the Ocean label which Dolfin then purchased.

2010

Dolfin releases first Fina approved tech suit.

 2016

Dolfin athletes posted a 2016 Olympic gold medal and multiple Paralympic gold medals and World Records.