“Will was driving force behind the suit’s design,” Kastanos says. “Interestingly, the first concept presented by the mill was gingham and was in a different color.  Haspel worked closely with the mill to get the color, texture and weight to what is now the final product.”

The inspiration behind the suit, which is made in the United States, was Haspel’s interest in creating a piece that embodied its Louisiana heritage and resembled their strong ties to Louisiana’s flagship university, Kastanos says. 

The inspiration behind the suit, which is made in the U.S., was Haspel’s interest in creating a piece that embodied its Louisiana heritage and resembled their strong ties to Louisiana’s flagship university, Kastanos says. 

“This is specific to LSU,” Swillie says. “Steve loved it.”

Helmke sported an early sample of the suit, which features a gold jacket lining and flat-front pants, in Austin during the weekend of the LSU-University of Texas game. The feedback was immediate and enthusiastic, with admirers of the suit constantly asking Helmke to share the link where they could order their own, Kastanos says.

Purchase of the suit includes a one-year membership to the LSU Alumni Association, and the association will also receive a $100 donation in the customer’s name. Proceeds from sales of the suit will benefit the association and its mission to “engage LSU alumni and friends to help them thrive professionally, socially, and philanthropically; and ultimately strengthen their bonds and support to LSU and to each other.” 

NEW ORLEANS- A New Orleans clothing company has announced plans for an LSU-themed seersucker suit.

The Geaux Tigers Seersucker Suit from Haspel will be a limited-time item and will only be available through the LSU Alumni Association. With a price tag of $695, the offer includes a one-year free membership to the association.

According to the company’s website the suit comes in several sizes, is 100-percent cotton, and has a single-breasted notch lapel.

Orders for the Audubon Traditional Fit suit must be received by October 15. Products ship in February 2020.

If you want to look extra dapper in the 2020 season, click here for more details on how to order.

Ever one to recognize a great story opportunity, Haspel, while attending a trade show in Boca Raton, Florida, took a dive into the Atlantic … while wearing his own seersucker suit! His point was that the suit would be dry in no time, ready to wear again, without cleaning or pressing. True to his word, it was; and he wore the suit to the trade show dinner that very evening. 

Haspel’s creativity, sense of innovation, and excellent taste all grew from the melting pot of cultures that make up New Orleans. His granddaughter, Laurie Haspel Aronson, keeps up the family tradition. Aronson is the company’s current President and CEO, but for a few days she also was our hostess, tour guide,ds and CFO (Chief Fun Officer). 

On the heels of their milestone birthday, Haspel released a new capsule collection that is certainly a vintage tribute to the company's long history. The collection is also a testament to the idea that seersucker is still relevant today, and not just for southern dandies. It’s true that something can be improved upon, should the will be there. Haspel clearly has the will. 

Will Swillie, the EVP Managing Director of Haspel, said that the main challenge for the company in improving their clothing was updating to more modern silhouettes and making the suits sellable in today’s marketplace. Some slight tweaks here and there allowed the company to stay true to their original styles while bringing the suit into the modern-day. A highlight of the new limited edition collection is a double-breasted, side vented jacket with a modern pleated pant and side tab waistband. For this capsule collection, Haspel created five different suit styles and five coordinating woven shirts, with suits retailing for $695 and shirts for $125.

The Archival Collection is comprised of five different styles of suits and five coordinating woven sport shirts. A highlight of the collection is a double-breasted, side vented jacket with a modern pleated pant and side tab waistband. The shirt styles consist of solids, patterns and floral prints that all work back to each suit. Suits will retail for $695 and shirts for $125, both found exclusively on Haspel.com.

“The vintage Haspel signature fabrics and years of creative advertisements inspired us most—particularly those from the Sixties and Seventies when Haspel was the ‘go-to’ suit for summer,” explains Will Swillie, EVP and Managing Director of Haspel. “These classic styles are still relevant today and updating them seemed like a fitting way to celebrate the brand’s tremendous legacy.”

Iconic American Brand Haspel Celebrates A Momentous 110th Anniversary. 

Contrary to popular belief, seersucker is not just about casual outings in the summer. Nowadays, American men realize that everyone has their own personal definition of seersucker style, whether it is for business or for pleasure. Seersucker can be worn many ways. It is a style concept and an experience, a moment as well as an evolution. Seersucker is the merging of well-spirited fashion with modified reality. In short, trust me, you can wear seersucker now. More importantly, I can assure you that once you start wearing seersucker, it will become a staple in your wardrobe.

Steamy Beginnings
For Haspel’s great-grandfather, Joseph Haspel, Sr., inspiration to create the iconic suit came from his time spent in New Orleans factories before the advent of air conditioning. In an effort to stay cool, factory workers were wearing lightweight overalls made of a fabric called seersucker. Haspel saw this and felt that the breathable fabric could be elevated into a dressy ensemble, appropriate for the boardroom, a restaurant or anywhere else a jacket was required.

After designing his first suit, Haspel discovered that he could layer the fabric and cut more than one suit pattern at a time. In 1909, his new company began manufacturing seersucker suits in a facility on Broad Street near Esplanade Avenue.