OUR HERITAGE
Gant of New Haven, est. 1949
Bernard Gantmacher arrived in the United States from Ukraine in the early 1900s, and began making shirts in New York’s Garment District. He quickly earned a reputation as one of the city’s finest shirtmakers. In 1949, he moved his family to New Haven, shortened the family name to Gant, and, together with his sons Marty and Elliot, founded Gant of New Haven.
From New Haven to the Ivy League
After Gant established itself in New Haven, the Yale Co-op was among the first shops to stock its shirts. Quickly embraced by Yale students, their popularity spread across campuses, becoming a fixture of preppy Ivy League style.
With years of expertise as a shirtmaker for leading American brands, Bernard Gantmacher and his sons saw the need for a few key improvements. They added the locker loop, box pleat, and back-collar button, Gant innovations that propelled the shirt to icon status and set the standard for how an Oxford Cloth Button-Down should look.
Legacy in every stitch
Elliot Gant’s patent application introduced a new construction technique for a tab collar. The design was recognized in 1963, when Esquire magazine awarded Gant “Best Shirt.”
Shirts, not blouses
When Gant introduced women’s shirts in the 1960s, an old ad read, “For women, Gant make shirts not blouses.” Made with the same care and confidence as the men’s, for women who knew what they wanted to wear. That hasn’t changed, though we do make blouses now too.
Gant sponsored Dennis Conner, widely regarded as the most successful America’s Cup sailor in history, and his crew during the America’s Cup in 1987, when Conner reclaimed the trophy from Australia, and again in 1992. Founded on the American East Coast, Gant has always been heavily influenced by the ocean and coastal life, a constant source of inspiration.
Born on the field
The rugger is one of Gant’s true icons, an Ivy League classic that embodies the spirit of preppy American sportswear and its collegiate heritage. Originally designed for the sporting field, it has remained a signature piece in our collections for decades. The red rugger with bleach stains is an archival Gant piece from the early 1980s, sourced from a vintage dealer in South Korea. We brought it back for our 75th anniversary collection.
Today, Gant continues to define the look of American sportswear. We remain true to Bernard Gantmacher’s original commitment to quality and innovation, creating timeless garments made to last. Our collections still honor the traditions of shirtmaking and tailoring that took shape in New Haven in 1949.
