“To make and deal only in merchandise of the finest body, to sell it at a fair profit, and to deal with people who seek and appreciate such merchandise.”  With that as his guiding principle, Henry Sands Brooks opened his men’s clothier in Manhattan on April 7th, 1844. It is called H & D.H. Brooks and Company.

The store is successful from the start with an American take on the high street tailors of London and is renowned for its high level of customer service  With his passing in 1833, Henry’s four sons inherit the store and in 1850 the brother’s store take on a more fitting name, “Brooks Brothers.”  The company is credited with introducing ready-to-wear suits to the American audience and is the clothier of US Presidents having outfitted 39 of the 44 chief executives including producing the suit that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in.

Now in its 198th year, Brooks Brothers is the oldest men’s clothier in the United States.