Brooks Brothers Bankruptcy Thread

[clee1982]

I think so but not sure what they do exactly these days

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Does this mean that Martin Greenfield is going to have some excess capacity some time soon?

I believe Martin Greenfield’s relationship with BB ended quite a few years ago.

 

[smittycl]

I was always suspicious as some folks here on SF rabidly held them up as the best American tailoring but I’ve never actually seen their stuff. Maybe they were on top of their game back in the day when the founder was still making bespoke suits for Colin Powell and such?

I seem to recall reading that they make stuff for Brooklyn Tailors? I do remember they used to make Golden Fleece for Brooks Brothers but got fired. Remember when a pile of relabeled BBGFs hit the secondary markets about a decade ago? Apparently customers were starting to complain about quality and Brooks pulled them all out of the stores, put new labels in the had the GF removed, and sent them to Marshall’s and such.

 

[clee1982]

Are they still the $1.5k MtM?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I was always suspicious as some folks here on SF rabidly held them up as the best American tailoring but I’ve never actually seen their stuff. Maybe they were on top of their game back in the day when the founder was still making bespoke suits for Colin Powell and such?

I seem to recall reading that they make stuff for Brooklyn Tailors? I do remember they used to make Golden Fleece for Brooks Brothers but got fired. Remember when a pile of relabeled BBGFs hit the secondary markets about a decade ago? Apparently customers were starting to complain about quality and Brooks pulled them all out of the stores, put new labels in the had the GF removed, and sent them to Marshall’s and such.

I have one BBGF suit. I purchased it about 12-13 years ago; a 3 to 2 roll with dual vents. I lost some weight a few years Later and so took it in for a tune up (this is still when they employed actual tailors in their shops).

A few weeks later the garment was ready. I went and picked it up, tried it on and BOOM! It fit well.

into the closet it went. About 6 months later I took it out to wear and notice the GF label had been removed from the jacket. I didn’t know what to make of it. For a while I thought maybe it had never been there. It didn’t really matter as the jacket fit and that’s all that mattered.

Reading your post, I wonder if this was part of that transition.

 

[smittycl]

I have one BBGF suit. I purchased it about 12-13 years ago; a 3 to 2 roll with dual vents. I lost some weight a few years Later and so took it in for a tune up (this is still when they employed actual tailors in their shops).

A few weeks later the garment was ready. I went and picked it up, tried it on and BOOM! It fit well.

into the closet it went. About 6 months later I took it out to wear and notice the GF label had been removed from the jacket. I didn’t know what to make of it. For a while I thought maybe it had never been there. It didn’t really matter as the jacket fit and that’s all that mattered.

Reading your post, I wonder if this was part of that transition.

If I remember correctly they switched labels and put in new ones of the same size but with “Golden Fleece” removed. It still said Brooks Brothers but had an empty space where the GF used to be.

 

[smittycl]

Are they still the $1.5k MtM?

No idea.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

If I remember correctly they switched labels and put in new ones of the same size but with “Golden Fleece” removed. It still said Brooks Brothers but had an Emory space where the GF used to be.

It’s not a bad suit. OTR and got it for 50% off. This is when BBGF went for $1600. It’s nothing special, but not bad. Not sure I would have paid full fare.

 

[smittycl]

It’s not a bad suit. OTR and got it for 50% off. This is when BBGF went for $1600. It’s nothing special, but not bad. Not sure I would have paid full fare.

I have one left. A staple mid-gray GF MTM that I wear constantly (or at least did before CV). Amazing VBC fabric and fits well in the Fitzgerald cut.

 

[JJ Katz]

BB had long fallen in the esteem of many picky buyers; that seems evident.

I think that if the new owners of the brand retreated to a handful of stores (perhaps just the main NYC one) as a sort of destination shop and supplemented that with healthy e-commerce they could make a go at reinstating, as a very niche brand, the 1960s “mass Ivy” style and just stick with that to an almost conservationist degree. I think there are enough hard core Ivy aficionados to keep that going. As to the demise of formal tailoring, there are plenty of less formal garments in the Ivy canon.

I doubt that will happen. I imagine there will be a sharp but not as severe retrenchment but that they will continue to try being versatile, IOW little USP.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

BB had long fallen in the esteem of many picky buyers; that seems evident.

I think that if the new owners of the brand retreated to a handful of stores (perhaps just the main NYC one) as a sort of destination shop and supplemented that with healthy e-commerce they could make a go at reinstating, as a very niche brand, the 1960s “mass Ivy” style and just stick with that to an almost conservationist degree. I think there are enough hard core Ivy aficionados to keep that going. As to the demise of formal tailoring, there are plenty of less formal garments in the Ivy canon.

I doubt that will happen. I imagine there will be a sharp but not as severe retrenchment but that they will continue to try being versatile, IOW little USP.

the NYC store as a destination sounds like a tough sell. Paul Stuart is a block away and there are tons of other high end men’s store just up the street.

 

[clee1982]

if you just step in for the first time, I think RL Mansion is probably the one that has the most "interesting feel to it"

 

[comrade]

the NYC store as a destination sounds like a tough sell. Paul Stuart is a block away and there are tons of other high end men’s store just up the street.

For decades, say through the '80s, it was THE Destination Store for traditional Ivy League clothing in
NewYork and perhaps the entire country. The Paul Stuarts, J. Presses, Chipps, and later Ralph Laurens,
were mere epigones of the Ur traditional clothier, Brooks Brothers. Reestablishing that position in light of
its, decades long decline will be near impossible.

 

[Pax Britannica]

This is sad, but I am not surprised because of their quality drop.

 

[smittycl]

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Discussions about the fashion industry thread

Actually I think the MJ ones might be between the Armoury and NMWA, might need to try that next I have pair of Rota from MJ. High rise cigar linen summer pants. Not sure if there is any appreciable difference. Of note, wifey hates them on me and prefers regular rise pants with a belt.

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