Coloured pencils
Founded in 1761 by Kaspar Faber, Faber-Castell is one of the world’s largest and oldest manufacturers of pencils and art supplies.
Vibrator
Launched in 1968 as a vibrating massager for relaxing sore muscles, the iconic Hitachi Magic Wand is generally seen as the mother of all vibrators.
Camper van
Founded in 1937, Volkswagen AG is a German car manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Jacket (aviator)
Founded in 1893 as a gentlemen’s outfitter, D. Lewis Ltd is the oldest British motorcycle clothing company, mostly known for its leather jackets.
Desk lamp (modern)
Founded in 1960 by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza, Artemide is an design company, specialized in the manufacture of lighting.
Water cooler
Founded in 1947 as a metal workshop, Igloo Products is one of the largest manufacturers of ice chests and beverage dispensers.
Paint brush
Founded in 1793 and operated and owned by the Max Sauer family since 1859, Raphaël is the oldest fine art brush maker in Europe.
Tracksuit
Founded in 1949 by Adolf ‘Adi’ Dassler, Adidas is a designer and manufacturer of sports shoes, clothing and accessories.
Plastic container
Founded in 1945 by Earl Silas Tupper, Tupperware is the world’s leading manufacturer of plastic containers used to store food.
Marker (permanent)
Founded in 1960 by Carl-Wilhelm Edding and Volker Detlef Ledermann, Edding is a manufacturer of writing and marking tools.
Walking stick
Founded in 1830 by James Smith, James Smith & Sons is one of the world’s oldest manufacturers of walking sticks and umbrellas.
Pizza oven (professional)
Founded in 2001 by Stefano Ferrara, a third generation oven-maker, Stefano Ferrara Forni is the manufacturer of the most iconic professional pizza oven.
Watch (aviator)
Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling, Breitling SA is a Swiss watchmaker, mostly known for its precision-made chronometers useful to aviators.
Bicycle lock (diskus)
Founded in 1924 by August Bremicker, Abus (an acronym for August Bremicker und Söhne) is the world’s leading manufacturer of bicycle locks.
Headphones (portable)
Founded in 1966 by John Bowers, Bowers & Wilkins is a manufacturer of audio equipment, mostly known for its loudspeakers.
Fondue heater
Founded in 1874 by Alfred Stöckli as a copper workshop in Uznach, Stöckli is the manufacturer of the most iconic fondue heater.
Coverall
Founded in 1918 by C.N. Williamson and E.E. ‘Colonel’ Dickie as the US Overall Company, Dickies is a leading manufacturer of workwear.
Light switch
Founded in 1909 by Adolf Feller, Feller SA is a manufacturer of electrical installation products and market leader in Switzerland.
Camera (action)
Founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman as Woodman Labs Inc., GoPro is an American technology company mostly known for its action cameras.
Measuring tape
Founded in 1895 in Germany, Hoechstmass is the world’s leading manufacturer of tape measures and roller tape measures.
Cashmere scarf (men’s)
Founded in 1866 by Alex Beggin the Scottish town of Paisley, Begg & Co handcrafts exquisite scarves, stoles and throws.
Pitcher (glass)
Aino Maria Marsio-Aalto (1894-1949) was a Finnish architect and designer, and wife of famous architect Alvar Aalto.
Clothes brush
Founded in 1777 by William Kent, G.B. Kent & Sons are the world’s oldest brush manufacturer.
Watch (date)
Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London as Wilsdorf and Davis, Rolex SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker.
High-pressure cleaner
Founded in 1935 by Alfred Kärcher, Kärcher is the world market leader in cleaning technology, mostly known for its high-pressure cleaners.
Sneakers (contemporary)
Founded in 2004 by Prathan Poopat and Flavio Girolami, Common Projects is an American/Italian luxury footwear company.
Tent (inflatable)
Founded in 1981 by Gerard Karsten, Karsten is the manufacturer of the world’s first inflatable tent.
Socks (patterned)
Founded in 1892 by Rhys Jones in Wales, Corgi is a manufacturer of finer quality socks.
Chair (aluminum)
Founded in 1944 by Wilton C. Dinges, Emeco is a manufacturer of furniture, mostly known for its aluminum Navy chair.
Pie dish (ceramic)
Founded in 1850 by Jacques Henry as a small pottery workshop, Emile Henry is a manufacturer of ceramic ovenware and bakeware products.
Car (roadster)
Initially, a roadster was an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection. By the 1970s, usage of the term evolved to open two-seat cars of sporting appearance or character.
Smoke detector
Founded in 1967 in Aurora, Illinois, BRK Electronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer and marketer of a line of home safety products under the First Alert brand name.
T-shirt (hemp)
Founded in 2005 by Rob Jungmaven, Jungmaven is the world’s leading manufacturer of hemp apparel. Jungmaven is trying to change the fashion industry by using eco-friendly materials.
Snowboard
Founded in 1977 by Jake Burton Carpenter, Burton Snowboards played an important role in turning snowboarding from a backyard hobby into a world-class sport.
Chair (glass)
Shiro Kuramata (1934-1991) studied architecture and cabinet-making and is considered the most influential designer of postwar Japan.
Air mattress
Founded in 1992 as Aero Products International, Aerobed is the leading manufacturer of premium, technologically-advanced air beds.
Marker (highlight)
Founded in 1855 as Grossberger & Kurz Bleistiftfabrik, Schwan-Stabilo is the world’s largest manufacturer of highlighter pens.
Umbrella (women’s)
Founded in 1956 by Arnold Fulton, Fulton Umbrellas is the UK’s largest manufacturer of umbrellas. In 1967 Fulton launched its iconic Birdcage umbrella.
Pocket diary
Founded in 1887 by Frank Smythson, Smythson of Bond Street is a British manufacturer of luxury stationery and leather goods.
Shirt (plaid)
Founded in 1830 by John Rich and Daniel McCormick, Woolrich, Inc. is the oldest manufacturer of outdoor wear in the United States.
Espresso cup
An immense favorite among espresso purveyors worldwide, FAC Porcellane ACF made the classic Italian espresso cup.
Snow boots
Sorel was introduced in 1962 by A.R. Kaufman, whose family business Kaufman Rubber Co. started making boots in 1907.
Tiles (mosaic)
Founded in 1873 by Graziano Appiani in Treviso in 1873, Appiani is one of the oldest manufacturers of tiles in the world.
Watch (chronograph)
Founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Zenith is a Swiss luxury watchmaker.
Ski hat
Founded in the 1950s by Maria Wöss, Eisbär is the world’s most iconic manufacturer of knitted ski hats.
Chair (object)
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888–1964) was a Dutch architect, furniture designer and one of the principal members of the artistic movement De Stijl.
Nozzle (pistol grip)
Founded in 1949 by Robert Gilmour as Gilmour Manufacturing Company, Gilmour is the leading U.S. watering brand.
Jacket (café racer)
Founded in 1933 in Detroit by Joseph Buegeleisen, Buco was a manufacturer of motorcycle jackets, mostly known for its iconic J100 café racer jacket.
Soap (rope)
Founded in 1887 by Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schweder, two Germans living in Portugal, Claus Porto is a manufacturer of soaps, bath salts and aromatic candles.
Laptop briefcase (leather)
Founded in 1971 by Roger Saul and his mother Joan, Mulberry is a manufacturer of leather goods, specialized in bags and handbags.