Top global brands with Russian roots

• with Russian roots Top global brands

Now known throughout the world, these companies make millions of dollars a year and affect the trends, fashion and much more. They work in very different fields, ranging from cosmetics to cars. But they have one thing in common - Russian roots.

1. Max Factor

We know Max Factor as a popular line of American cosmetics belonging to a huge corporation Procter & Gamble. But the company was actually founded by Polish businessman of Jewish origin named Maximilian Factorovich. He was born in 1872 in the city of Zduńska Wola, when eastern Poland was part of the Russian Empire.

From a young age Maximilian worked in the beauty industry: His first post was assistant make-up artist in the theater. In 1895 in Ryazan, he opened his own shop selling cosmetics, creams, perfumes and wigs.

In 1904, Maximilian and his family emigrated to the United States, and he founded the Max Factor. Beautician saw an opportunity to sell custom wigs and theatrical makeup for the growing American film industry - and it paid off. He became so successful that on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood has a star with his name.

2. Sobranie (cigarettes)

Family company - one of the oldest cigarette brands in the world - was founded by Albert Weinberg, who moved from Odessa to London in 1879 (in the XIX century Odessa was part of the Russian Empire). In 1929, a cousin of Albert Isaiah Redstone registered trademark of Balkan Sobranie - later, the company name was shortened to Sobranie, as we know it today.

Sobranie "Black Russian" - a reference to the roots of the brand and the logo used on the packaging, inspired by the coat of arms of the Russian Empire in 1883.

3. Chevrolet Corvette

Few people know that the famous sports car was designed Zachary Arkus-Dante, who was born in a Russian family in Belgium in 1909. He became known as the "father" Corvette "."

In 1942 he founded a company called Ardun Mechanical Corporation. His success attracted the attention of Chevrolet, and in 1953 he was offered a position in General Motors. Over the next 30 years, Zachary has played an important role in the development of the race car Corvette and the creation of 6, 2-liter engine produces 550 horsepower. Corvette Grand Sport was born in 1963. Now it is a valuable classic car, very sought after by collectors.

4. Timberland

Footwear brand Timberland LLC was founded in 1952 in the United States to Russian immigrant Nathan Schwartz. He was born in Odessa, when it was still part of the Russian Empire, to a poor Jewish family. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were sewn shoes. It is no wonder that Nathan followed in their footsteps.

But Nathan was ambitious and wanted to create a more perfect shoes. In the end, with the help of a special machine for pressing with the use of seamless technology he produced waterproof shoes with a rubber sole.

Today, Timberland is headed by Jeffrey Swartz, grandson Nathan.

5. Mishka

Mishka - a popular company dealing with street fashion, which is based in New York. It was created in 2003 by Mikhail Bortnik. The very name - an abbreviation of the name Michael.

Mikhail Bortnik was born in 1978 in the Soviet Union and as a child moved to Brooklyn. He has always been a big fan of graffiti and graphic design, and his first major project for Marvel Comics.

Today the brand Mishka is widely known in the US and around the world. The company also owns a record label.