Complete with children’s apparel, a new women’s line by designer Zac Posen, and its iconic menswear, Brooks Brothers has come a long way since the opening of its Manhattan flagship in 1818.
Now, locals can browse all of the brand’s signature attire at a new store that debuted at 809 Aliceanna Street in Harbor East on Tuesday morning.
The bright, 5,400-square-foot space houses all of the company’s latest looks, which range from classic suits and ties to its Red Fleece collection highlighting polos and button-downs for men.
District manager Don Miller says that Brooks Brothers makes it a priority to cater the in-store options to fit the needs of the customer base in each location.
“Traditional clothing is a big piece of our business, but we also have a big sportswear market here in Baltimore so we try to address both of those things,” he says. “In this store we’ve really updated the fit and some of the fabrications to speak to more of a luxury customer.”
The opening comes at a particularly exciting time for the company, as it recently unveiled Posen’s spring 2016 women’s collection, which was well received at New York Fashion Week last fall. Featured at the Harbor East location, the line marks the designer’s first collection since he was appointed Brooks Brothers’ creative director in 2014, showcasing pieces such as silk dresses, strappy sandals, and an assortment of women’s trousers.
“Since [Posen] has become our creative director we’ve really seen a new customer come to Brooks Brothers,” Miller says. “We’re offering a lot of updated pieces, and we’ve gotten some great feedback.”
Amidst all of the expansion, Brooks Brothers maintains its reputation as an upscale men’s clothier. The new store dedicates a large portion of its space to its made-to-measure department, which allows customers to choose from more than 1,500 fabrics and customize their own tailor-made suits.
Following the recent closure of the Inner Harbor storefront in The Gallery, the new Harbor East location is now the brand’s only shop in the Baltimore area. Brooks Brothers joins other upscale boutiques such as Madewell, Anthropologie, Free People, and yet-to-open Warby Parker in the city’s “luxury district.”
“Harbor East is a perfect match for our direction as a company,” Miller says. “It’s a really exciting time in retail and we have a tremendous opportunity here.”