The story
The company was founded in 1941 as Reading Airchutes Inc., a manufacturer of cargo parachutes for the U.S. Air Force. It became a leading supplier of cargo and bomb parachutes during World War II, with over 500 employees, most of whom were women with relatives serving in the military.
In 1946, the company was renamed after Jean Vernon, an employee who took a leave of absence during the war to serve in the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, otherwise known as SPARS. Vernon was recognized by the U.S. Navy for her bravery after weathering the 1945 Homestead hurricane while stationed in Florida. Under its new name, the company began manufacturing and distributing silk and nylon lingerie.
In 1958, the company expanded into the competitive swimwear market and began manufacturing nylon swimsuits for racing under the brand name Dolfin - named for its association with the aquatic mammal.
In the 1960s, Dolfin introduced a line of track uniforms made out of the nylon/tricot fabric the company used in its swimsuits at the time. The running uniforms were created at the request of a group of track coaches who wanted a replacement material for the heavier wool and jersey uniforms that were in use at the time. Dolfin continued to sell track clothing throughout the 1970s and 1980s, while maintaining production of swimsuits.
Dolfin International Corporation was purchased by Phantom Industries Inc., later renamed Jade Swimwear L.P., in 2008. In 2016, Jade Swimwear was purchased by GK Elite Sportswear, maker of gymnastics clothing, which, in turn, is an affiliate of the private equity group The Riverside Company.
Dolfin introduced a new logo in 2014 that will be incorporated on all Dolfin products starting in 2016, Dolfin's 75th anniversary year.
From Wikipedia’s article on Dolfin Swimwear, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3