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.
“National Seersucker Day is June 13 and what other brand can actually say that they own a holiday?” said Aronson.
In the past 110 years, there’s been no shortage of legendary figures wearing the suits, from Hollywood stars and political icons, to presidents of the United States. It’s a style that’s gone national and started in Louisiana.
“Louisiana is our home and we are very, very proud of that,” said Aronson. “Haspel clothing are clothes meant for a good time.”
In 1909, it was introduced to the sartorial world by specialist American seersucker makers Haspel as the ultimate summer suit fabric. Born out of the New Orleans jazz movement, it became a look synonymous with the hazy southern states. Its Crescent City style was best captured by Miles Davis who personified this look on his At Newport 1958 album cover, demonstrating how to wear a soft-shouldered Italian-cut jacket with nonchalance. It was a heyday moment for the fabric and his louche approach is still a style cue worth noting t...
In 1908, John Haspel Sr. founded his eponymous menswear brand in New Orleans with the goal of creating clothing that could withstand the southern heat. After observing British men wearing a lightweight and breathable material called seersucker in the warm-weather colonies of India, he decided to create the first seersucker suit. Colonialism aside, it became a hit.
INCISAL EDGE | OCTOBER 2018
On Kent McBride:
Blue dress shirt by Haspel. Haspel.com
On Spencer Stiles:
Blue two-button single-breasted suit by Haspel, haspel.com
