COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3961

Costume Jewelry and Costume Novelties, Except Precious Metal

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

4companies1897–1993founding years4still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedSwank Inc.
1897
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedUnited Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc.
1922
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedGianni Versace SpA
1977
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedThe L.L. Knickerbocker Co., Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Swank Inc. →
Active · founded 1897
Swank, Inc.
United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
At one time United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc.
Gianni Versace SpA →
Active · founded 1977 · Italy
Headquartered in a Milanese palazzo, Gianni Versace SpA is second only to rival house Giorgio Armani among Italy's…
The L.L. Knickerbocker Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1993 · www.knickerbocker.com
L.L.
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