hart schaffner marx

Obama's Tux Maker Goes Bankrupt

Hartmarx, the Chicago-based clothing company that made President Obama's dodgy tuxedo for the inaugural ball (above), as well as several of the suits he wore on the campaign trail, has just filed for bankruptcy the Chicago Tribune reports. Obama favors the firm's fairly bland Hart Schaffner Marx line, but the company also makes high-end men's clothing under its Hickey Freeman label, that, to our way of thinking, is much more suitable for a stylish young Chief Executive (it even has a Presidential Collection). Hart Schaffner Marx sales have picked up a bit thanks to Obama, but not nearly enough.

A newer, hipper Hickey Freeman spinoff, hickey, has recently become a fashionista favorite, and will hopefully survive the process. The company plans to continue operating while it undergoes a reorganization, but said it may sell some or all of its assets. Hartmarx, the largest maker of men's tailored clothing in the U.S., traces its roots to 1872, when brothers Harry and Max Hart first opened a men's clothing store in Chicago. The company also owns the downmarket Sansabelt and Palm Beach brands, and has licensing agreements with several well known labels.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Black tie, BlackTie, Chicago, hart schaffner marx, Hartmarx, Hartmarx Corporation, HartmarxCorporation, HartSchaffnerMarx, hickey, Hickey Freeman, HickeyFreeman, Obama, Suit, Tuxedo

Barack Obama's New Tuxedo

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

There's been a lot of talk about Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day outfits but what about the President-elect? Barack Obama has chosen Illinois-based Hart Schaffner Marx to create his tuxedo for the inauguration. MSNBC says this is Obama's first tuxedo in 15 years. It generally sells for $895 and will join Obama's many other Hart Schaffner Marx suits, He already picked up six suits from them earlier this year to wear on the campaign trail. The company is an American, union-made manufacturer.

[via Heard on the Runway]

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, hart schaffner marx, HartSchaffnerMarx, tuxedo