 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothier |
| Founded | New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. (1902) |
| Headquarters | New York City, U.S. |
Key people | Jacobi Press (Founder) Jun Murakami (Current CEO) Jack Carlson (Current CCO) Irving Press (Past CEO) Paul Press (Past CFO) |
| Products | Men'sClothing |
| Parent | Onward Kashiyama (Onward Holdings, Ltd.) |
| Website | jpressonline.com |
J. Press is a traditionalIvy style men's clothier founded in 1902 onYale University's campus inNew Haven, Connecticut, by Jacobi Press. The brand also has stores inNew York City andWashington, D.C.
J. Press became the first American brand to be licensed in Japan in 1974.[1] In 1986, J. Press wasacquired by the Japanese apparel company Onward Kashiyama, which had previously been its licensee for 14 years.[2] J. Press is currently part of the Onward Group (Onward Holdings, Ltd.).[3] In 2025,Jack Carlson was named as creative director.[4]
Jacobi Press immigrated to the US fromLatvia in 1896 with the intention of becoming a rabbi; however, he began working for his uncle's custom tailoring business in Middleton, CT upon his arrival to the United States.[5] He founded J.Press six years later.[6]
By the 1920s, J. Press had become the preferred tailor for clientele, such asDuke Ellington,Cary Grant andRobert Frost.[7][8] In a 1936 letter written to his daughter, F. Scott Fitzgerald warned her to "beware the wolves in J. Pressed tweed."[7]
Irving E. Press, son of Jacobi, was CEO of J. Press during its heyday and pioneered key innovations such as the Shaggy Dog sweater. In 1974, the Press family sold the rights to license J. Press for theJapanese market, making it the first American brand to be licensed in Japan.[1] In 1986, Kashiyama acquired J. Press and the company ceased to be run by the Press family.[2][8]
Japanese licensed distribution is roughly six times larger than the American-made J. Press.[9] J. Press is currently part of the Onward Group (Onward Holdings, Ltd.).[3] More recently, notable patrons have includedSupreme Court JusticeStephen Breyer and GovernorBill Richardson as regular customers.[10]
Since its founding, J. Press' clothing has remained much the same. J. Press is said to carry on atraditional Ivy League style of men's clothing,[11] showing a commitment to classic style. J. Press caters most to an old-fashionedpreppy subculture that eschewspopular culture trends. Its signature branded items include: the "Shaggy Dog" Shetland sweaters, Indian madras jackets, and Oxford button down shirts.[12][13] The company produces the vast majority of its off-the-rackjackets in the traditional "three-button sack" style rarely found today in America, and for the most part, only produces plain-fronttrousers, for which the company suggests a traditional 13⁄4"cuff. Fabrics are generally subdued, except for traditionally bright-colored items such as casualtrousers andsweaters. Itsneckties bear traditional repp stripe, foulard, andpaisley motifs. They also carry scarves and ties featuring motifs and colors forIvy League schools, includingYale'sSkull and Bones Society. J. Press dressovercoats are oflambswool,cashmere, orcamel hair, or of herringbone tweed with a velvet collar in theChesterfield style.
The New Haven store was originally built in 1863 in theFrench Second Empire style as a residence for Cornelius Pierpont, a prominent local grocer. It was irreparably damaged byWinter Storm Nemo in February 2013; the company temporarily rented a store at 260 College St., across from theShubert Theatre.[14][15]
In 1912, the company opened a store in New York City "appropriately equidistant from theYale andHarvard Clubs."[16]
In May 2007, J. Press moved to 380Madison Avenue in New York City,[1] which closed indefinitely in 2014.[17][16]
On March 1, 2013, J. Press opened another store in New York City, located at 304Bleecker Street, which carried a sub-label of the brand called "J. Press York Street", that was described by theNew York Times as "a faint outline of the original."[18] Designed by Shimon and Ariel Ovadia of the clothing brand Ovadia & Sons, York Street was geared towards a younger audience, embracing slimmer fitting clothing with bold colors and patterns.[19][20] After four seasons, Shimon and Ariel Ovadia left York Street and it was merged into mainline J. Press and renamed "J. Press Blue".[21]
Later in 2013, J. Press's New Haven store on York Street was severely damaged by a storm, and the company began constructing a new storefront while operating out of a temporary location. In 2022, on their 120th Anniversary, J. Press completed their flagship storefront at their historic location on Elm Street. The building adjoins their previous store and also houses J. Press's e-commerce distribution center.[22][23]
In October 2017, J. Press closed the York Street store and opened a new store inmidtown Manhattan, in the same building as theYale Club. The store was expected to generate 25% of U.S. sales.[24]
J. Press formerly had branches inCambridge, Massachusetts (closed in August 2018 after 86 years),[25]San Francisco, California andPrinceton, New Jersey. Jack Carlson has spoken of J Press reopening a location near Harvard as a pet project.[4] J. Press has three stores in the United States:New Haven, New York City at theYale Club, andWashington DC.
J. Press has catered, since 1902, to theultraconservatives of theOld Guard who feelBrooks Brothers is too trendy and women's departments are an abomination.