Our Story

For the last century, Haspel has defined a uniquely American style, pioneering the seersucker suit and making preppy looks de rigueur at Ivy League campuses throughout the country. Today, at a time when younger men are increasingly dressing up and embracing modern interpretations of classic looks, Haspel has taken on a new, modern resonance.

With its 2010 collections, Haspel has sought to capture and reinterpret its heritage as a family-owned brand whose patriarch, Joseph Haspel, famously never wore socks and publicized "wash-and-wear" fabric by swimming suit-clad in the Atlantic Ocean. The clothes reflect polish without pretention, anchored by an iconic style that's never been out of fashion.

Founded in New Orleans in 1909, Haspel operated as a small manufacturer of men's work wear - until a lightweight Indian fabric known as seersucker forever changed what was in store. Joseph Haspel's suit solution for Louisiana's blazing summer heat became the brand's signature item, propelling Haspel's popularity beyond its southern roots, while making an indelible mark on American menswear. Before long seersucker had shed its practical image in favor of an air of panache, as celebrities and politicians embraced the style and young college men made it a staple of their preppy wardrobes. More than clothing, the seersucker suit emerged as a symbol of status, in the words of writer Damon Runyon "a badge of affluence."

In the following decades, Haspel continued to expand its offerings, attracting new enthusiasts with its bold colors and classic sensibilities. It also pushed the envelope of innovation, introducing stretch fabrics and working with fabric companies to create the "miracle fiber" used in wash-and-wear suits.

The tradition continues today. Haspel is now operated by a partnership between Neema Clothing, Graj and Gustavsen, and the third generation of the Haspel family, Laurie Aronson, great-granddaughter of Joseph Haspel Sr. and her father Richard Lipsey. Haspel has expanded beyond suits, adding shirts, neckwear, outerwear and sportswear to its collections, with more categories in the works.