Society Brand Clothes

Society Brand Clothes (originally and formally Alfred Decker & Cohn) was a leading manufacturer of men's suits, based in Chicago. The company was founded in 1902[1] by Alfred Decker and Abraham Cohn.[2] The company incorporated in 1919.[1] It was known for its Society Brand line of suits and came to do business under the name Society Brand Clothes.

Society Brand Clothes
TypePrivate
IndustryConsumer Goods
Founded1902 as Alfred Decker & Cohn
Defunct1952
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Area served
United States
Key people
Alfred Decker
(Chairman of the Board) (President)
ProductsMen's clothing
Number of employees
2,200 (1930)

After 1913, the company was located in the Alfred Decker & Cohn Building (subsequently known as the Society Brand Building) at 416 South Franklin Street in Chicago. The building was built in 1912-1913 by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White.[3]

Society Brand Clothes Colliers advertisement from October 4, 1913

The company advertised Society Brand extensively in posters, magazines and newspapers under the slogan For Young Men and Men who Stay Young.[4][5]

In 1919, the company started delivering some of its merchandise to retailers outside of Chicago via two dedicated Curtiss Jenny airplanes[6][7] that had the name "Society Brand Clothes" painted prominently on the fuselage.[7] Service included nearby cities in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.[6] Operations ceased in 1920.[8]

Society Brand Clothes was acquired by Hartmarx in 1952. Hartmarx continued the Society Brand line for at least 30 years.[9]

References
  1. Moody's Industrial Manual. Moody's Investor Service. 1930.
  2. Leonard, John William (1917). The book of Chicagoans : a biographical dictionary of leading living men and women of the city of Chicago (1905). Chicago: A.N. Marquis.
  3. Chappell, Sally A Kitt (1992). Architecture and Planning of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, 1912-1936: Transforming Tradition. University of Chicago Press. p. 94. ISBN 0226101347.
  4. "A Cheerful Welcome for Fall (advertisement)". Collier's. 52: 3. October 4, 1913. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  5. Society Brand Clothes: For Young Men And Men Who Stay Young, New York Public Library Digital Collections, retrieved February 25, 2018
  6. "Clothing Manufacturer Establishes Air Service to Retailers". Flying. Flying Association, Incorporated. 8: 634–635. August 1919.
  7. Scamehorn, Howard Lee (2000). Balloons to Jets: A Century of Aeronautics in Illinois, 1855-1955. SIU Press. p. 208. ISBN 0-8093-2336-2.
  8. Kent, Dave. "An Abridged History of Chicago Municipal Airport and Chicago Midway Airport" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. Greenhouse, Steven (August 8, 1986). "Hartmarx's Road to Growth". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
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