In 1944, a hard-working and forward-thinking man took the Australian textiles industry by storm. His name was Saul Same. Gloweave is his legacy.
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of our revolutionary brand, and our story is nothing short of a page turner.
Read on to find out how the imagination, ingenuity, influence, and innovation of one man completely turned the world of textiles on its head, and why Gloweave is still recognised as a leader in the field.
In the early 1920s, the Same family emigrated to Western Australia from Palestine, where they made an honest living from farming. Saul led a simple but happy life of riding horses, rowing boats, and enjoying the general adventures of his youth. It was this life that instilled his deep-rooted sense of family and looking out for his own, as well as a continuously resolute work ethic. These would remain some of his most highly respected traits amongst his peers and employees for years to come.
As a young man during WW2, Saul went on to study and teach aeronautics and hydraulics in the RAAF but was soon asked to join his father-in-law’s clothing business.
Reluctantly entering the Australian ragtrade as an unknown, Saul always lived by the creed that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. It was a mindset that led, against all odds, to the enormous growth & success of Gloweave as we know it today.
“The difference between the possible and the impossible is the measure of a man's will.”
(Displayed on a plaque on Saul’s desk)
Under Saul's visionary leadership, the once humble family business evolved into the most innovative and inventive shirt company in Australia.
Saul continuously thought outside the box. Although he was initially hesitant to enter the world of textiles & design, his ambition and passion for innovation saw him ahead of his time.
In 1950, he formally inherited his father in law’s Comfort Shirt and Underclothing Manufacturing Co, which made military polo shirts and underwear, with a staff of only 12. It soon proved difficult to get the supplies he needed, but his practical ingenuity and willingness to invest time into research and development gave Comfort a clear advantage over his competitors.
Having been “squeezed out” of the market by some of the textiles big wigs at the time, Saul once more had to think on his feet. In 1953, no longer able to source the woven shirt fabrics that were most commonly used, he devised a way to craft new and unprecedented knitted nylon fabrics using the hosiery machine, changing the focus to shirts that were more stylish and fashionable. Projecting a slight lustrous sheen, these fabrics were cleverly trade-marked as Glo-Stripe and Glo-Check, leading to the birth of the coveted household Glo-Weave name.
In 1956, with the advent of Australian television, Saul took the advertising bull by the horns. It was the year that Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games and Australia was proudly televised to the world. Not one to shy away from seizing a pivotal opportunity, he set forth on a mission to broadcast the Glo-Weave name across the globe.
Promoting fresh, avant-garde garment lines such as “Freeway “, ”Gay Life ”, ”Four Seasons ” and ”Holiday ”, Glo-Weave boldly paved the way to a brand new era in men's fashion.
And so it echoed and escalated throughout the 50s, marking Glo-Weave as a ragtrade pioneer. Having already created a trailblazing buzz, the world couldn't wait to see what they would do next.
What a ride! Glo-Weave was taking the world by storm and having the time of its life. Saul forged ahead with his TV advertising campaigns, gaining mass popularity for the brand by the second.
Television and radio personalities across the country were eager to be part of the revolution. Brian Henderson, Graham Kennedy, and Bert Newton were quick to jump onboard the Gloweave train as it continuously picked up speed.
Before long, our celebrities were taking Glo-Weave across the globe in the Glo-Weave Around the World campaign, promoting the brand in the fashion capitals of the world.
Soon, the iconic, fashion-fearless Glo-Weave “body shirt” would emerge and loom large throughout these swinging, swaggering decades of post mid-century pizzazz. They were made from a fine knitted jersey produced on special machines originally used for hosiery, and were styled as a tapered business/sports shirt, with a fused collar with longer, rounded peaks. The fabric was lubricated during the dyeing process to prevent needle damage while the garment was being sewn, a method used exclusively by Glo-Weave. These uniquely created shirts remained popular for many years.
In its hay day, it seemed the Glo-Weave craze was unstoppable!
But the business would soon face another major hurdle. And Saul, at his resourceful best, would bravely take on this new era of fashion.
“To sustain longevity, you have to evolve.”
In Melbourne Tonight was one of the highest-rating programs in the history of television and was compulsory viewing for a generation of Australians. Is it any wonder Saul decided to use it as a means to spread the Glo-Weave name?
But in the mid-70s, Graham Kennedy left GTV9, the show was then cancelled, and Glo-Weave was suddenly faced with a need for fresh advertising strategies and campaigns.
Between the years of 1973 to 1979, Saul saw an alternative advertising opportunity – sponsoring the Bob Jane racing team. It was another genius move in putting the Glo-Weave brand in front of the eyes of the nation.
By mid-1974, however, the Australian economy was already in crisis and had plunged into recession. High inflation, rising wages, unemployment, and a trade deficit had caused manufacturing to fall by 10%, and Glo-Weave was left with no choice but to evolve accordingly.
Saul and his son David strove to keep everything within Australia – Australian owned, Australian made. It was a noble pursuit, but ultimately unattainable. Manufacturing costs were continuously rising, the protection barriers restricting imported goods were being removed, and the benefits of manufacturing offshore became too compelling to ignore. Try as he may, Saul realised he could no longer avoid the inevitable.
Again, with determination and an unwavering will to stay in the game, Saul continued to move with the times, even when those times got tough. Relying on his cool head and innate flexibility, he was able to reframe the business model and keep the Glo-Weave brand alive.
By the 1980s, the apparel business was absolutely booming, and Glo-Weave was right there in the thick of it. With a sudden appetite for new fashion, department stores were vibrant, and retail outlets were in abundance. Buyers were aplenty, and Glo-Weave was well and truly in its element.
After all that had transpired, it’s little wonder that, in 1987, Saul was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for his tough-as-nails determination and groundbreaking contribution to business.
“Shirts so comfortable you’ll never want to take them off”
(90s slogan)
In 1992, Saul passed the baton to his son, David Same, who became Gloweave’s Managing Director. Six years later, David officially acquired the business from his father and became its new leader. Once again, the company would remain in the family.
Exploring and reviewing the business and its culture, David created a new team environment where employee ownership and accountability were paramount. This guiding principle remains the cornerstone of the brand’s integrity today.
Through the difficult and heart wrenching period of closing the factory and relocating to new offices in Smith Street, Fitzroy, David embraced importing with a practical and open mind. It allowed him to explore new markets and build extraordinary supplier relationships, many of which exist to this day.
The 90s and 2000s saw several shifts in the marketplace that would alter Gloweave’s trajectory once more. There was the rise of discount stores and the closing of many independent men’s stores. There was Gloweave’s brief foray into retailing. Then the rationalisation and change in traditional department stores to the brand concession businesses of today. And finally, the influx of global fashion brands into the Australian market. Each would radically change the industry landscape, creating the need to mastermind the next Gloweave phase.
Now, in 2024, Gloweave continues to be at the forefront of the apparel industry as leaders in the corporate uniform business.
As always, the brand thrives on creating fresh, modern, and innovative designs, offering a premium service and supply model second to none.
In 2014, Gloweave moved into the uniform space, launching the sharply- focused and well-received Career by Gloweave label. It has proven to be a shining example of moving with the times, thinking outside the box, and harnessing the best resources available. In the same year, womenswear was introduced into the corporate range, becoming the most successful women’s product in the company’s 80 year history.
Above all, quality remains the central ingredient, focusing on cutting-edge designs, durable, easy-care fabrics, and unparalleled comfort.
Gloweave also prides itself on socially responsible manufacturing in compliant factories in Bangladesh and Indonesia, and a decreasing dependence on China. In addition, we’re embracing a sustainable future with the introduction of recycled fabrics and a program to minimise packaging waste.
Staying true to Saul’s creative drive and practical resourcefulness, Gloweave has continuously moved ahead of the curve to mark its deserved place in history.
“I wasn’t born to make shirts. I was born to be a human being who wanted a wide interest in the community and in the well-being of people. I wanted to leave the world a better place than when I came in. I looked at suppliers as partners and our customers as an extension of our business with mutual trust. I looked at our staff as a part of our extended family. I feel that succeeding in business and losing touch with your family is like going up an escalator that is coming down.”
Saul Same
