Company History
HARD AT WORK SINCE 1954
RefrigiWear founder Myron Breakstone was tough. The work he did for the Breakstone family dairy was tougher...and colder.
But when he shipped off to load bombers in WWII with just a military-issue wool coat, the frigid winters of northern Italy taught him just how dangerous and miserable working in the cold can be.
MYRON CAME HOME FROM THE WAR WITH A NEW MISSION: KEEP WORKING PEOPLE WARM.
Seventy years later, we're still carrying on with Myron's mission. You can count on RefrigiWear insulated workwear to help you Own the Extreme™.
EXPLORE INSULATED WORKWEAR
70TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
Influenced by decades of design and validated by your 5-star reviews, the 70th Anniversary Collection includes our most popular insulated gear for working in cold storage, food processing, construction, utilities and transportation.
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OUR HISTORY OF BRINGING WARM, TOUGH GEAR
WARMER, LIGHTER & LONGER-LASTING
Armed with this knowledge and a commitment to protecting workers from the cold, Myron and his brother-in-law Mort founded RefrigiWear in 1954. They set up shop in Manhattan, NY and were often found in the factory debating the best way to construct a garment for maximum warmth and mobility.
Myron and Mort's legacy of designing the warmest and most comfortable work clothes continues with RefrigiWear's ongoing innovation in insulated workwear.
WORLD'S FIRST IRON-TUFF® FREEZER SUIT
To protect food processing workers from the extreme conditions in which these foods are prepared and stored, RefrigiWear invents the world's first Iron-Tuff® freezer suit. Demand for Iron-Tuff® garments grows so quickly that the Manhattan factory can't keep up and the company moves to a larger facility on Long Island, NY in 1962.
FIELD-TESTED FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Popular Field & Stream journalist Mr. Clare Conley famously tested RefrigiWear's original minus-50 freezer suit in 1965 and reported the suit performed perfectly in the freezer and in the great outdoors.
RefrigiWear gear easily makes the transition from temperature-controlled environments to unpredictable outdoor jobsites and the popularity of high-visibility insulated workwear for construction and transportation workers continues to grow.
FROM POLE TO POLE, GEAR FOR EVERY KIND OF COLD
In the arctic circle, workers completed the first segment of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in 1977 after being outfitted with RefrigiWear for protection from the windy, subzero conditions of the Alaskan tundra. Meanwhile, workers headed toward the South Pole to supply expeditions in Antarctica also guarded themselves against frostbite and frigid temperatures with RefrigiWear.
Our dedication to protecting both arctic explorers and everyday workers continues to this day. With new innovations in materials and features, RefrigiWear offers a full range of cold weather protection.
SERVING HARDWORKING HEROES
The company begins exporting garments to Italy in 1994 and outfits NATO personnel and military contractors assisting with housing refugees in war-torn areas of Europe. To meet this additional global demand, the company relocates from New York to its present-day headquarters in Dahlonega, Georgia.
People who brave the worst conditions to do the toughest job are our kind of people. They're our heroes and we honor them each year with an awards program and special recognition in the RefrigiWear calendar.
RefrigiWear Acquires Samco
REFRIGIWEAR ACQUIRES AVASKA
PEOPLE (AND GEAR) THAT WON'T QUIT UNTIL THE JOB'S DONE
And, if you take a break to catch a little TV, you're likely to see RefrigiWear gear on-screen and behind-the-scenes in Life Below Zero, Snowpiercer, Dark Winds and True Detective: Night Country.
No matter how different a job in the freezer might seem from building a Chicago skyscraper or filming a scene in the cold desert, these hardworking people have two things in common: they never quit until the job's done and they trust RefrigiWear to protect them while they do it.
WHAT'S YOUR REFRIGIWEAR STORY?
On the set of the AMC+ crime drama Dark Winds, actor and crew member Rob Tepper worked seriously long hours in dangerously cold conditions.
Luckily, Rob came prepared with a 54 Gold Hybrid Sweatshirt and 54 Gold Bib Overalls from RefrigiWear. Rob shares his experience taking on the wind and cold of the desert in Santa Fe,
New Mexico to successfully complete filming.
WELCOME TO WARMTH
Connect with RefrigiWear and you're guaranteed a warm welcome to the most chill (see what we did there?) group of guys and gals around.
Plus, you'll get real recommendations and gear reviews from actual RefrigiWear users, our best cold weather tips for staying warm on the job and new product alerts to keep your team safe and warm.
CONNECT ON LINKEDINCELEBRATNG 70 YEARS WITH YOU
Hardworking folks like you drive RefrigiWear to keep learning and keep improving so you can have the best gear possible to get your job done.
Whether you're a new RefrigiWear fan or a long-time customer, we're grateful for your business and the work you do to keep our country running.
Here's to celebrating 70 more years!
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