Some brand names seem to become an overnight success. Others establish themselves as a popular brand over a long period of time. The ones who manage to have a steady following of brand loyal customers are the classic brands. Well that paired with the classic looks in design some brands manage to establish with their clothing lines.

In fact, some brands manage to gain popularity with time going above and beyond what makes them a classic. Brooks Brothers is one of those brand names in clothing. They absolutely define what it takes to become a classic and remain one as well.

About the History

The Brooks Brothers brand name in clothing began all the way back in 1818. It was started by Henry Sands Brooks and was to become the first ready-to-wear fashion emporium in America. The company was originally started at the H. & D.H. Brooks & Co. and opened in Manhattan.

In 1833, when the original founder passed away, his sons took over. And in 1850 the siblings renamed the business Brooks Brothers. This is also the same year the company adopted the Golden Fleece symbol for their logo, a sheep suspended by a length of ribbon.

To get an idea of how long this clothier has been in business and how much of a name it has made for itself, think about being the brand of coat Abraham Lincoln wore during his second inauguration. President Lincoln was one of many famous brand-loyal customers over the course of the almost 200 years the brand has been around.

Consider some of these fascinating facts about the rich history of the company:

The brand has actually outfitted 39 of the American Presidents including Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.
Brooks Brothers supplied some of the uniforms for the Civil War.
During the late nineteenth century, it was this brand that supplied uniforms for the elite members of the New York National Guard.
Theodore Roosevelt even used this brand as the maker for his dress uniform for the Spanish-American war.

The last time a family member headed up the company was from 1935 until 1946. Brooks Brothers was sold in 1946. By 1969 there were 10 different Brooks Brothers locations across the United States. Compare that to the 210 in business by 2012 in just the U.S., plus the 70 in other countries around the world. The company also launched its website in 1998 ahead of much of the competition.

Understanding the Quality & Innovation

Part of what sets Brooks Brother aside from the competition is the high standards of quality that goes into each garment. It has been this way since the very beginning of the company, back in a time when there was no other way to do things. The company still used the best materials and the highest quality of standards for design and construction.

To show how Brooks Brothers goes above and beyond when it comes to quality, think about how just the silk used for Brooks Brother silk ties is woven in Italy or England. The company has also released books on proper etiquette for both men and women. For this company, it is about having and understanding high standards.

Even though Brooks Brothers is considered traditional, classic and even conservative, this brand has been responsible for some innovations in men’s fashions. Here are some examples:

After seeing the button down collars on the shirts of English polo players, John E. Brooks replicated this in 1896.
The pink dress shirt was a rather risky and bold fashion attempt and soon became a hit to be worn with a smart charcoal grey suit.
Argyle socks for men became available to Americans in the 1920s thanks to this manufacturer.
The polo coat was introduced in 1910 thanks to Brooks Brothers.
In 1920, Brooks Brothers also introduced the American market to the Indian Madras.
Plus plenty more

Shopping for Brooks Brothers

Ralph Lauren started out as a salesman for this brand, and was later sued for replicating the button down polo collar Lauren used as a designer. Famous artist Andy Warhol often wore the brand. For the “Colbert Report” Stephen Colbert has all of his suits supplied by this brand.

It’s no wonder that the brand remains so popular. Screen gems such as Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable were often spotted wearing Brooks Brothers. Even the young celebs from Slumdog Millionaire wore this brand at their appearance at the Academy Awards. The bottom line is that when one wants to look sharply dressed in a classic and traditional sense, there is hardly any other brand that could beat Brooks Brothers.

The company has also expanded quite a bit since the initial days of just tailoring men’s clothing. When you shop for Brooks Brother now, you can find items for women, kids and the home in addition to men’s clothing. You can shop for Brooks Brothers at one of 210 U.S. locations and at least 70 across the globe. Not to mention you can also do plenty of shopping for Brooks Brothers online through the company’s website. Some shoppers like to find an even better bargain though.

Although Brooks Brothers suits and products come with a slightly elevated price tag compared to some other men’s clothing companies, you get the highest in quality for the price. For thrift savvy shoppers, though, Brooks Brothers outlets are the way to go.

Luckily, for budget-minded shoppers who still want the quality and the name, there are more than a few Brooks Brothers Factory Outlet locations including:

Tanger Outlets Lancaster, Pennsylvania
North Georgia Premium Outlets Dawsonville, Georgia
Opry Mils Nashville, Tennessee
Tanger Outlets Atlantic City, New Jersey
Cincinnati Premium Outlets Monroe, Ohio
Tanger Outlets Hilton Head, South Carolina
Tanger Outlets Foley, Alabama
Camarillo Premium Outlets Camarillo, California
Tanger Outlets Gonzales, Louisiana
Plus plenty more

More than likely, you may have a Brooks Brothers Factory Outlet in your own backyard and not even realize it. When it comes to finding the best in quality for men’s, women’s, kid’s and home, Brooks Brothers is the name to rely on.