1950年、メリヤス雑貨の製造を始めた西田東作は、1951年にゴールドウインの前身である株式会社津遷メリヤス製造所を設立した。なぜメリヤス製造だったのかというと、西田には紡績工場で勤務していた経験があり、義兄は東京でメリヤスの編み物職人だったから。最近では聞きなれない「メリヤス」とは、いわゆるニットの種類の一つを指す。1955年頃まで、平編みを用いた編地や布地をメリヤスと呼んでおり、製品は現代のようなニットやカットソーではなく、肌着や靴下が大半だった。1939年から1945年まで、約6年間も続いた第二次世界大戦。終戦直後だった当時、食糧も十分に確保できない厳しい環境の中、西田は残された親族や近所の女性たち、全20人ほどの従業員とともに40坪ほどの工場を富山県小矢部市でスタートした。これがゴールドウインの歴史のはじまりだ。工場は家に隣接しており、とにかく皆寝る間を惜しんで必死に働き続けた。新しい機械の価格が高かったことから中古の機械を購入し、故障した編み機は自らの手で修理をしていた。まず、くず糸を紡いでガラ紡（紡績）を作り、簡単なメリヤスの靴下やセーター、腹巻などを作ることから始めた。出来上がった製品をリュックに詰め、自ら色々な県に出向き売り歩いたという。当時の社員は口を揃えて「とにかく家庭的な雰囲気だった。お互いが助け合っていた」と話す。今でも色濃く残る、温かくアットホームな雰囲気とゴールドウイン「社員が財産」という社風の原点は当時から存在していた。その時から彼は「世界一の商品を作る」、「世界一の会社にする」という強い思いをよく口にしていたという。多くの社員は、竹を割ったような性格の西田との思い出を楽しそうに話す。勢いと強さ、溢れるエネルギー、そしてカリスマ性には多くの人が魅せられ、従業員だけでなく、これまで提携してきた世界中の会社が彼信頼を寄せていた。

Tosaku Nishida began manufacturing knit goods in 1950 and established Tsuzawa Knit Fabric Manufacturer, the precursor to GOLDWIN, in 1951. Because Nishida had experience working at textile mill and his brother-in-law was an engineer at a knit fabric factory in Tokyo, he decided to start a knit fabric factory. “Meriyasu (knitted goods)”, which is a word rarely heard these days, refers to a type of so-called knit. The products were mainly underwear and socks unlike sweater or t-shirt commonly known today. Shortly after the end of World War II, which had lasted for about six long years from 1939 to 1945, in a harsh situation where people could not secure enough food, Nishida started a factory of about 130 sq. m in Oyabe city, Toyama. The factory employed some 20 workers consisting of knit makers, women in the family who had lost their husbands in the war, and other women from the neighborhood. This was the beginning of the history of GOLDWIN. The factory was adjacent to the family house, and everyone worked hard without sparing time for sleep. They purchased the used machines because the new ones were so expensive, and when the knitting machines broke down, they repaired the machines by themselves. They spun waste threads into yarn, and then made simple knitted socks, sweaters, belly bands etc. The finished products were stuffed in backpacks and they went to various prefectures to sell them. Employees at that time say unanimously, “It was a homely atmosphere through and through. Everyone was helping each other.” The origin of warm and at-home atmosphere as well as GOLDWIN’s corporate culture of “employees are the most valuable assets,” which remains strong even today was present from that time.  From those days, Nishida would often mention his strong desire to “make the world’s best products” and of making “the best company in the world.” Many employees talk happily about their memories of Nishida and his straightforward character. A lot of people were fascinated with his vigor and strength, overflowing energy, and charisma, and he was trusted by not only his employees but also by companies all over the world who joined hands with him.