More Than a Century of Expertise
After more than 100 years of business in ever-changing times, we’ve earned our title as uniform experts! Over 2,000 top schools rely on DENNIS to design best-in-class programs delivering comfortable and durable uniforms for students across the nation. With more than 35 retail branches, an industry-leading centralized distribution center and an easy-to-use online shopping platform, we provide schools and families with the products and service they deserve.
We make school uniforms easy.™ Company of Families
DENNIS AND THE SHIPLEY FAMILY LEGACY
1920
DENNIS Uniform was founded in Portland, Oregon as a manufacturer of professional uniforms.
WWII
During the war, DENNIS supplied linens and apparel to military personnel shipping out of the Port of Portland.
1952
Father and son Julian and John Shipley
After Julian Shipley’s death, his son John Shipley and son-in-law Fred Buchwalter ran the company together until the ‘80s.
1990s
We launched our first website and began selling uniforms online.
1940
Julian Shipley purchased DENNIS Uniform.
Let’s Make Your Uniform Program a Perfect Fit
We’ll build your school a uniform program that works, delivering the quality and service that your school families expect. As a company of families, we’re more than just outfitters –we work hard to create lasting partnerships with our schools.
1947
After the war ended, we launched the first large-scale ready-to-wear school uniform operation, opening our first retail store and creating our first plaid that same year.
1960s
We continued to expand our retail stores, offering dedicated locations and fitting expertise along with easily available uniforms.
2003
2000s
DENNIS began acquiring other likeminded uniform providers, bringing on their experienced staff into the company family.
John Shipley’s son Tom joined the company as President and worked alongside his mother and DENNIS VP Joan Shipley.
2020s
2023
We launched the DENNIS Distribution Center in Fort Worth, Texas to provide faster, more convenient shipping to our customers nationwide.
We redesigned our ecommerce platform, creating a streamlined shopping experience both online and in stores.
Today
Tom Shipley continues to serve as DENNIS board chairman, directing us toward future growth and improvement.
DENNIS Uniform Home Office
135 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214
A Company of Families
As a unified company, we make strategic partnerships to maintain the wealth of knowledge within our industry. We’ve brought our acquired companies’ key staff members on board and honored their longstanding business relationships, which has allowed us to create a talented team to serve a customer base across the nation with the highest level of care.
2007
LAROSE SCHOOL UNIFORMS
was founded in 1978 by the Larose family. Larose School Uniforms served the southeastern US, running three retail locations in Tennessee and Alabama. Two of their original stores are still in operation under DENNIS Uniform in Memphis and Nashville, along with additional southeastern locations in Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi.
Five Larose children worked for the company through the years, along with most of their children – a true family business! Larose School Uniforms joined DENNIS after 29 years in operation.
2018
AA UNIFORM
was founded in 1956 by the Blanck family. AA Uniform flourished in Miami and the south Florida area through the ‘70s and ‘80s, serving the large number of Cuban families who immigrated to Miami and built parochial schools for their children and communities. AA Uniform continued to grow and successively surpassed all other local competition in the region, year after year.
Three sisters in the Blanck family ran the business after their parents. AA Uniform became part of DENNIS after 62 years in business.
2022
MILLS UNIFORM
was founded in 1947 by Sue Mills, and was later operated by her daughter Suzette Foley. Mills Uniform began by serving top schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, expanding through California and eventually across the country, centering much of their business in Texas. More than 40 key Mills team members joined DENNIS during acquisition, adding a combined total of 300 years of additional uniform experience. We embrace Mills’ strong school partnerships and the wealth of industry expertise they’ve added to the DENNIS team.
We support our school partners best with an extended company family full of experienced team members. Together we truly are stronger than ever!
