Gazal Corporation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGazal Corporation was an Australian clothing company that developed, manufactured, imported, wholesaled and retailed branded apparel across Australasia and selected European markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Gazal Corporation was an Australian branded-apparel company founded in Sydney in 1958 by Joe Gazal. It began as a manufacturer of men's shirts and pyjamas and later developed into a diversified clothing group involved in design, manufacturing, importing, wholesale distribution and retailing. Its product coverage included men's, women's and children's clothing, business shirts, school uniforms, workwear, trousers, suits, surf and casual apparel, underwear and related accessories. The company's major strategic shift came in the early 1990s. In 1993, Gazal closed or rationalised a number of loss-making divisions focused on unbranded products and redirected the business toward recognised national brands. This transformed the company from a supplier of house brands into a branded-clothing operator. Over subsequent decades, Gazal combined ownership of selected proprietary labels with licences, distribution arrangements and acquisitions involving established international and Australian brands. Its portfolio and business relationships included Mambo Graphics, Davenport, Bisley Workwear, Bracks, Midford, Van Heusen, Paramount and Pierre Cardin. Gazal also imported or distributed brands such as Nautica and Calvin Klein Underwear and held an Australian underwear licence for Oroton. Through acquisitions, licences and retail operations, the company expanded beyond its original shirt-manufacturing base into underwear, men's formal and casual trousers, suits, schoolwear, workwear and specialty retail. Gazal supplied large Australian department stores, including David Jones and Myer, as well as independent retailers. Its retail activities included Trade Secret and Midford School Stores, while the group had 46 stores reported in 2011. It also operated across Australasia and had some European business interests, although the scope and ownership of individual labels varied by territory and over time. The company pursued a gradual move toward greater control of the brands it manufactured, marketed and distributed. This strategy was intended to provide longer-term brand tenure and more flexibility in product development than reliance solely on licensing agreements. At the same time, Gazal continued to use licensing and distribution partnerships for international labels. Gazal divested several assets during the 2000s and 2010s. It sold its remaining interest in the Mambo brand and related Australian wholesale and retail operations in 2008, sold Brands United retail stores to Pacific Brands in 2011, and sold Trade Secret to TJX in 2015. In 2015, Mambo was also sold to Saban Brands. In 2019, PVH acquired approximately 78% of Gazal Corporation's shares. The available reference material does not establish the company's current standalone operating status, legal name, website or whether it continued as a separate corporate entity after the share acquisition.
History
Gazal Corporation began in Sydney in 1958, founded by Joe Gazal as a manufacturer of men's shirts and pyjamas. Its early business was principally manufacturing-led, but the company later broadened its activities across apparel categories and distribution channels. It became a publicly listed company in 1973 when its shares were admitted to trading on the Australian Securities Exchange. A defining turning point occurred in 1993, when Gazal closed or reduced a number of loss-making divisions that sold non-branded products. Management instead concentrated on recognised national brands. This change repositioned Gazal from a house-brand supplier toward a branded-apparel group and shaped its subsequent acquisition and licensing strategy. During the 1990s, Gazal expanded through partnerships and acquisitions. In 1994, it reached an arrangement with partners in Hong Kong and China to manufacture and market Arrow men's shirts in China. In 1996, it acquired the Lovable brand in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. In 1997, it acquired a 25% interest in Gross Industries. In 1998, it secured a licence to sell Nautica men's lifestyle products in Australia and New Zealand. The company continued diversifying in the 2000s. In 2003, it acquired the Davenport Underwear Group, together with Body Art Australia's Australasian distribution rights for Calvin Klein underwear. In 2005, Gazal acquired the Bracks Apparel Group, an established men's trouser and apparel business with Australian and New Zealand operations. The Bracks transaction added men's formal and casual trousers and suits to Gazal's established shirt, underwear and general apparel activities. Gazal also changed the composition of its brand portfolio through disposals. In 2008, it sold its remaining interest in Mambo and associated Australian wholesale and retail operations. The transaction involved stores and wholesale distribution rights, while certain territorial rights were excluded. In 2011, the company sold its Brands United retail stores to Pacific Brands. Trade Secret was sold to TJX in 2015, and Mambo was sold to Saban Brands in the same year. The group's operating model combined wholesale and retail activities. Its wholesale portfolio included labels such as Van Heusen, Bisley, Midford, Bracks, Paramount and Pierre Cardin, while retail activities included Trade Secret, Calvin Klein Underwear and Midford School Stores. Gazal distributed through major department stores such as David Jones and Myer, independent retailers and its own or affiliated specialty outlets. Its product categories included business shirts, schoolwear, workwear, underwear, formalwear, casualwear, surfwear and children's clothing. Gazal's strategic direction increasingly emphasised ownership or greater control of brands, while retaining selected licensing relationships for international labels. Brand ownership was viewed as providing longer-term security and greater flexibility in product and marketing development. The group nevertheless remained dependent on a mixture of owned brands, licences, distribution rights and retail relationships. In 2019, PVH acquired approximately 78% of Gazal Corporation's shares. The available source material identifies this as a controlling investment but does not provide enough information to establish the subsequent legal structure, delisting details, current management or present standalone status of Gazal Corporation. Accordingly, its current status is recorded as unknown rather than being assumed to be active or defunct.
- 2019
PVH takes a controlling stake
[1]PVH acquired approximately 78% of Gazal Corporation's shares.
- 2015
Trade Secret and Mambo transactions
[1]Trade Secret was sold to TJX and Mambo was sold to Saban Brands.
- 2011
Brands United retail stores divested
[1]The Brands United retail-store business was sold to Pacific Brands.
- 2008
Mambo interest divested
[1]Gazal sold its remaining Mambo interest and related Australian wholesale and retail operations.
- 2005
Bracks Apparel Group acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Gazal into men's trousers, formalwear, casualwear and suits in Australia and New Zealand.
- 2003
Davenport Underwear Group acquired
[1]Gazal acquired Davenport and related Australasian distribution rights for Calvin Klein underwear through Body Art Australia.
- 1998
Nautica licence secured
[1]The company obtained rights to sell Nautica men's lifestyle products in Australia and New Zealand.
- 1996
Lovable acquired
[1]Gazal acquired the Lovable brand in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
- 1994
Arrow manufacturing and marketing arrangement
[1]Gazal agreed with partners in Hong Kong and China to manufacture and market Arrow men's shirts in China.
- 1993
Branded-products strategy adopted
[1]The company rationalised unbranded operations and made national brands its primary commercial focus.
Products and positioning
An Australian branded-apparel group serving department stores, independent retailers and specialty channels, with a portfolio spanning formalwear, business apparel, workwear, schoolwear, underwear and casual clothing.
Men's trousers and apparel
Bracks
Bracks was an established men's apparel business acquired by Gazal in 2005. Its range included formal and casual trousers, men's suits and related apparel, extending Gazal's portfolio beyond shirts and underwear into more complete men's wardrobe categories.
Workwear
Bisley Workwear
Bisley Workwear formed part of Gazal's wholesale brand portfolio. The label served occupational and practical clothing needs and complemented the group's broader business in uniforms, workwear and institutional apparel.
Schoolwear
Midford
Midford was associated with Gazal's schoolwear activities, including school clothing supplied through wholesale channels and Midford School Stores. The business gave Gazal a dedicated position in the Australian school-uniform market.
Business and formal apparel
Van Heusen
Van Heusen appeared in Gazal's wholesale portfolio as a branded apparel line. Its role within the group was connected with business shirts and formal or work-oriented clothing distributed through department stores and independent retailers.
Surf and casual apparel
Mambo Graphics
Mambo Graphics was a surf, art and casualwear brand associated with Gazal's Australian wholesale and retail operations. Gazal sold its remaining interest and related operations in 2008, and the brand was later sold to Saban Brands in 2015.
Underwear
Davenport
Gazal acquired the Davenport Underwear Group in 2003. The transaction strengthened the company's position in underwear and was linked with Body Art Australia's Australasian distribution rights for Calvin Klein underwear.
Underwear
Calvin Klein Underwear
Gazal distributed Calvin Klein underwear in Australasia through rights associated with Body Art Australia. This was a licensed or distribution-based business rather than evidence that Gazal owned the Calvin Klein brand.
Apparel retail
Trade Secret
Trade Secret was part of Gazal's retail operations and represented the group's outlet and value-oriented retail presence. Gazal sold the business to TJX in 2015.
Brand decisions
2019
PVH acquires controlling shareholdingM&ABackground
Gazal operated a portfolio of Australian and international apparel brands and licences.
Action taken
PVH acquired approximately 78% of Gazal Corporation's shares.
Aftermath
PVH became the controlling shareholder, but the available reference does not establish the subsequent standalone corporate status or management structure.
Approximate shareholding acquired. Approximately 78% (2019)
2015
Divest Trade SecretM&ABackground
Gazal was reshaping its portfolio and reducing or transferring selected retail assets.
Action taken
The company sold Trade Secret to TJX.
Aftermath
Trade Secret left Gazal's portfolio and became part of TJX's retail interests.
2005
Acquire Bracks Apparel GroupM&ABackground
Gazal sought to expand from shirts and underwear into additional men's apparel categories.
Action taken
It acquired the Australian and New Zealand operations of Bracks Apparel Group.
Aftermath
The transaction added men's formal and casual trousers and suits to the group's portfolio.
1993
Concentrate on recognised national brandsStrategyBackground
Gazal had several loss-making divisions focused on non-branded products and house-brand supply.
Action taken
The company closed or rationalised those divisions and redirected its business toward recognised national brands.
Aftermath
The change established the strategic basis for Gazal's later brand acquisitions, licences and distribution arrangements.
Sources1 sources
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