Brooks Brothers, Hurt by Casual Fridays and Coronavirus, Files for Bankruptcy

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: The Wall Street Journal.

Brooks Brothers, Hurt by Casual Fridays and Coronavirus, Files for Bankruptcy

The 202-year-old maker of business suits, and one of the last with U.S. factories, joins other apparel brands in bankruptcy court

By Suzanne Kapner and Soma Biswas
Updated July 8, 2020 8:51 am ET

Brooks Brothers dressed the American business class in pinstripes for more than 200 years, survived two world wars and the shift to casual dressing. But it was no match for the coronavirus pandemic.

The closely held company, which is owned by Italian businessman Claudio Del Vecchio, filed for bankruptcy protection in Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday. One of the few brands to make clothes domestically, it warned in June that it could close its three U.S. factories. It has 500 stores around the world and roughly 200 in North America,...

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RETAIL
Storied apparel brand Brooks Brothers files for bankruptcy as it seeks a buyer and closes dozens of stores
PUBLISHED WED, JUL 8 20208:02 AM EDTUPDATED 2 MIN AGO
Lauren Hirsch
@LAURENSHIRSCH

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/08/brooks-brothers-files-for-bankruptcy-as-it-seeks-buyer-closes-stores.html

https://twitter.com/laurenshirsch

[IronLionZion]

1. They should sell the Conservative Freedom Fighter outfit

Not everyone has a law practice and a fancy mansion

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I think that is a Brooks Brothers polo shirt.

I need to see a picture with higher resolution. That way, I could confirm the golden fleece logo.

[IronLionZion]

4. The golden fleece of freedom is visible in this one

[dalton99a]

7. +1

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. Oh, yes.

Iconic Clothier Brooks Brothers Files For Bankruptcy
July 8, 2020

CNBC reports:

The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious retailers. Brooks Brothers — pioneer of the polo and uniform of the polished prepster — filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, as it continues to search for a buyer.

The retailer, which is more than two centuries old, boasts of having dressed 40 U.S. presidents and countless investment bankers. Early to the office-casual look, it became known for its crisp oxfords and jaunty sports jackets. But rent had become a burden, and the pandemic torpedoed a sale process that began in 2019.

It began to evaluate which of its roughly 250 North American stores to close in early April. It has already decided to close about 51, a decision it attributes to the pandemic. It has more than 500 stores worldwide and employs 4,025 people.

The company trended for other reasons recently.

Retailer Brooks Brothers filed for bankruptcy, squeezed by the coronavirus pandemic and a yearslong shift to casual office attire

Link to tweet

Is it just me or does an AR-15 clash horrible with French Neo-Classic Architecture? Is there not a Beaux Arts weapons manufacturer for the gentleman that appreciates Brooks Brothers but also likes to shoot at his neighbors in peaceful assembly?

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

3. We live in a mobile home, and my husband wears Brooks Bros to work...

... it's good that we have a Brooks Bros outlet store nearby. That helps. But, in an outlet store, they don't do the alterations in-house. We just take them to the dry-cleaners and let them take care of the hems, cuffs, and other minor alterations.

Not everyone has a law practice and a fancy mansion

It's not just for the rich. If they close forever, it will be a shame.

[IronLionZion]

5. I know, I have some brooks brothers clothes

I was just being snarky because of the St. Louis couple's mindset of fearing for their lives when people were walking down the street doing nothing to these people or their property

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Same here, including some polos.

High quality, American-made. Not cheap, but if you care for your clothes, they'll last.

Around DC, Brooks Brothers shows up at thrift stores a lot, for the same price as clothing from Walmart.

[IronLionZion]

13. You're right. I have one suit from their outlet store that lasted a long time

it's an investment. I've heard their overcoats are also good quality and long lasting. But have heard complaints about their shirts ripping, so I never bought any shirts.

But mostly I shop at Joseph A Bank and Men's wearhouse because of cost. Amazon's Buttoned Down brand is designed to directly compete against brooks brothers at a lower price.

[Botany]

6. When my dad was teaching @ a liberal arts school in N.W. PA many years ago he would go to ....

... Brooks Brothers in Pittsburgh @ least 2 time per year.

This make me sad.

[NurseJackie]

10. 99% of my husband's silk neckties are from Brooks Bros...

The others were gifts from people who didn't know better. One of his favorites is about 20 years old... just the right width, classic and timeless design and colors. (When cared-for properly, the "expensive" neckties end up being a good buy.)

[Paladin]

11. Sorry to hear this. I'm old enough to remember dressing well for work.

Once the tech departments of corporations made Casual Friday a thing, Brooks Bros.' days were numbered.

[Auggie]

12. I used to buy a lot from them. But nothing in the past 24 years.

Maybe it's my fault ...

[Lulu KC]

15. laughing

I share your guilt. They were fantastic during the Dress for Success period of my life. Oh, I wish I had more pictures. The little bow around the neck.

[Jirel]

14. No loss.

I am an attorney. While the days of lawyers wearing full suits to the office every day are mostly over, I do wear suits to court. I would not be caught dead in anything from Brooks Brothers, either in the office or in the courtroom.

BB is the height of conservative, BORING dressing, the kind of clothes Charles and Buffy wear to signal they fit in at Martha’s Vinyard. Casual Friday’s didn’t kill BB - tons of more imaginative, high quality, more attractive suits and other office-appropriate clothing from designers from Ralph Lauren to Tahari, which often cost the same or less and can be readily tailored by the store or any number of third party businesses if needed, killed them.

[dhol82]

16. My husband was a Brooks Brothers aficionado.

I would buy him his shirts and ties there and they were wonderful in their day.
I have to say that I noticed a major decline in quality over the last 20 years. Sad. I’m sure they made whatever they said they made here in the states but The quality of the fabric and suit construction were not the same.
As somebody said above, they became boring and lowered their quality.

[EarthFirst]

17. Proud Boys Uniform Sale! 60% (while supplies last) nt

[Aristus]

18. I don't wear Brooks Brothers. Mostly Men's Wearhouse, Hickey Freeman, and

Hart, Schaffner, and Marx.

Brooks Brothers made a cool uniform for Teddy Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War. Other than that, not a huge fan.