Remembering Donna

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States; it’s estimated that 1 in 15 Americans will receive a diagnosis. With no current cure, lung cancer takes more lives in the U.S. than any other form of cancer. For perspective, lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and more than three times as many men as prostate cancer.

Like many, the Dapper Classics family has been impacted by this terrible disease. Donna was a close friend of our family for 25 years. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in December of 2017. Donna fought a valiant battle before finding rest in March of this year. Although she is no longer with us, she will remain in our hearts forever.

In honor of Donna, we knitted a run of Lung Cancer Awareness Socks. We’re donating 50% of all sales of these socks to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. If you’d like to learn more about the foundation’s work and discover what you can do to support their efforts, you can visit their website.

In Memory of Julius “Julie” Hertling

A few years ago, we decided to enter the trousers business. After some research, we discovered that the premier factory for Made in USA pants was Hertling Trousers. Morris Hertling opened the factory in Brooklyn, New York in 1925. His son, Julius (known as “Julie” by his friends), took over in 1946 after returning from WWII where he served in the US Army. We were sad to learn that Julie passed away this week.

Julie was truly a titan in the industry. His dedication to the US garment trade was second to none, and his commitment to excellence made Hertling Trousers synonymous with high-quality, yet affordable, Made in USA pants. If you’ve purchased a pair of American-made trousers, there’s a good chance that they came from Hertling.

We were fortunate to have known and spent time with Julie. While some in his position may have turned away a company trying its hand in the trousers business, Julie welcomed us with open arms. He was genuinely happy to work with another Made in USA company. Julie invited us to his factory for a tour, took us out to Brooklyn’s famous Peter Luger’s (where Julie had his Tuesday lunch for over 50 years), and graciously shared his vast knowledge of the trousers business.

Thank you, Julie, for your generosity and guidance. Thank you for being a friend. We’re proud that Dapper Classics trousers are part of your legacy. (photo credit: David Wood)

Dapper Classics at the 2016 NBA Draft

The Dapper Classics Team is a fan of sports, so we were excited when the opportunity presented itself to participate in the 2016 NBA Draft. We recently teamed up with LW Branding to provide socks for two of the draft’s top prospects – Dragan Bender and Wade Baldwin IV.

Lauren Walsh founded LW Branding in 2015. LW Branding is a branding agency for amateur and professional athletes. The agency’s mission is to help clients “create, develop, and capitalize on their personal brands to ensure long term success now and long after their active careers.” LW’s services include character and crisis management, charity involvement, communication consulting, and personal styling. The agency has worked with Jermichael Finley (NFL, Green Bay Packers), Sam Dekker (NBA, Houston Rockets), and Purdue University football among others. We at Dapper Classics appreciate the role of style in personal and professional branding, so working with LW Branding was a natural fit.

The 2016 NBA Draft was an exciting night for Dapper Classics. Both athletes who wore our socks during draft week were selected in the top 20. Dragan Bender, a forward/center from Croatia, was drafted 4th overall by the Phoenix Suns. Wade Baldwin IV, a guard from Vanderbilt University, was drafted 17th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. We wish Dragan and Wade the best as they begin their NBA careers. If their NBA game proves as strong as their sock game, they will be in good shape.

*Images of Bender and Wade wearing Dapper Classics socks are viewable here (Bender) and here (Wade).

**If you are a branding agency seeking menswear for your clients and are interested in Dapper Classics, please email us at contact@dapperclassics.com.

Veteran Spotlight: Mr. Harold

Mr. Harold, 95, wearing his Eisenhower jacket

On this Veterans Day, we want to salute one of our favorite veterans – William “Mr. Harold” Reeves. Mr. Harold is like family to the Dapper Classics Team. And when we started our company, he was the recipient of the first official Dapper Classics socks.

A member of “The Greatest Generation”, Mr. Harold was born in 1920. He grew up in Tennessee and volunteered for the military in 1941. He served throughout the duration of WWII.

Reeves in Germany during WWII

Mr. Harold was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. His service involved combat throughout Europe – including the Battle of the Rhineland. He was stationed in present-day Czechoslovakia on V-E Day. Following the conclusion of the war, he returned to Tennessee and worked as a carpenter at Fort Campbell.

Mr. Harold has truly embraced living life to the fullest. Whether it be deep sea fishing, traveling to Hawaii with his wife, Daphne, or learning to snow ski in his 70s, he has always been up for a new adventure. Now 95 years old, Mr. Harold continues to make the most of every day. He enjoys morning coffee with friends and caring for his dog and cattle. He also remains active volunteering in his community.

Mr. Harold with other veterans at the National WII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The United States wouldn’t be the place it is today without the sacrifices made by our veterans. We’re fortunate Mr. Harold is a part of our lives, and we’re grateful for his service to our country. We’re also thankful that we can make all Dapper Classics products right here in the USA. Happy Veterans Day!

 

Introductions: Our President

It can take a lot of people to help a company reach its full potential. However, a company’s success is largely determined by its leader. After all, the leader is the tone setter. Today we’re excited to introduce the man who sets the tone for Dapper Classics – Fred Rich, Our President.

When you’re the president of a young company, you wear many hats. Fred’s responsibilities are as varied (from modeling to managing) as they are numerous, and his position demands expertise in small-picture and big-picture matters. His major tasks include brand promotion and managing cash and product flow.

Fred plans our participation in bi-annual men show’s in New York, Chicago, Charlotte, and Dallas. These shows are our most important promotional events, as they present opportunities to forge relationships with retailers and other companies. Fred also handles purchasing of raw materials and stays in contact with the knitting facility concerning production details. Moreover, he makes design decisions for Dapper Classics products and manages our inventory. One of his most recent cash/product flow decisions involved purchasing a third knitting machine to help meet our production demands. Fred is committed to providing Dapper Classics customers with a positive shopping experience. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to take customer service calls and write personalized “thank you” notes that are shipped with orders.

In his spare time, Fred enjoys reading, running, and spending time with family.

Introductions: Our Co-Founder

It’s been said that you shouldn’t start a business with an idea. Instead, you should found a company because it offers a solution to a problem. Today we’re excited to introduce the person who envisioned what Dapper Classics could be before it even began – Harrison Rich, Our Co-Founder.

In 2011, Harrison identified a problem that needed addressed. That problem was a lack of Made in USA options for fine men’s hosiery – namely, over-the-calf socks. Upon recognizing this problem – an apparent gap in the sock market – Harrison imagined a company that could be the solution. Working with Fred, his father, Harrison turned his vision into a reality – and thus, Dapper Classics was born.

Harrison was instrumental in designing our inaugural line of socks and our original website. He continues to play an important role in product designs – offering fabric and style advice on our socks, neckties, and trousers.

In his spare time, Harrison enjoys spending time with family and running.

Introductions: Our Social Media Director

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Blogging – if you said these words not too long ago, people would’ve thought you were talking gibberish. But in today’s world, a strong social media presence is becoming increasingly crucial to a company’s success. Today we’re excited to introduce the person who posts, tweets, pins, and blogs for Dapper Classics – Dustin Wood, Our Social Media Director.

Dustin is one of the founding members of Dapper Classics. He also happens to be our company president’s son-in-law. Dustin performs a variety of tasks for Dapper Classics – he works with our graphic designer on promotional materials, establishes connections with other companies, makes sales calls, and provides insight on product designs – but his primary responsibility is communicating with customers and potential customers via social media. Whether it’s sharing images from a men’s show or announcing new arrivals and special promotions, Dustin seeks to keep our followers up to speed on all things Dapper Classics. You can find out where to follow Dapper Classics on social media here.

When Dustin isn’t behind his keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports.

Introductions: Our Quality Assurance Specialist

Those familiar with the Dapper Classics brand know the company was founded by father and son Fred and Harrison Rich. The Dapper Classics Team is comprised of other family members also. Today we’re pleased to introduce our Quality Assurance Specialist, Mark Rich – Fred’s brother.

Mark performs a variety of important tasks, making him a key cog in the Dapper Classics machine. One of his primary responsibilities is inspecting products for quality. Put another way, Mark functions as a gatekeeper for our brand.

At Dapper Classics, we like to say that “Dapper is in the Details.” Without Mark’s attention to detail in inspecting our products, this saying would mean nothing to our customers. We’re proud to support American jobs by only carrying clothing and accessories that are expertly made in the USA. Mark is the final check-point between these items and our valued customers. In addition to fulfilling his Quality Assurance Specialist responsibilities, Mark helps manage inventory and oversees our packaging and shipping department.

When Mark isn’t working, he enjoys golfing and fishing.

Introductions: Our Designer

Given the wide variety of sock fits and styles, there are a lot of hosiery manufacturers. Today we’re excited to introduce the person who makes Dapper Classics socks stand out from the rest while, at the same time, upholding our commitment to timeless style – Kristen Pandolph, Our Designer.

Kristen earned a degree in Textile Design/Knitting from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. She has nearly 25 years of design experience and has worked with several well-known companies throughout her career. Kristen joined The Dapper Classics Team in 2014.

Kristen’s primary responsibility is designing new sock styles for Dapper Classics. Her creativity has helped us expand our catalog and realize the full potential of our knitting machines. Kristen’s background with knitting machine software is invaluable. After designs are finalized, she graphs on the software and sends the information to the mill so production can begin.

In her free time, Kristen enjoys watching baseball and cooking with her husband.

Introductions: Our Technician

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. If it is broke, by all means, fix it! Today we’re excited to introduce the man who keeps a close eye on our knitting machines, Steve Owens – Our Technician.

Steve started working at the third-generation mill that knits Dapper Classics socks right out of school. Dapper Classics is a direct beneficiary of his technical expertise. Steve’s experience helps him catch potential problems before they become serious concerns. And if a complication does arise, he is quick to resolve the issue so quality is not compromised. Steve also monitors production of new samples and makes the necessary adjustments to the machines to ensure the socks are knitted with the quality you’ve come to expect from Dapper Classics.

When he’s not at the mill, Steve enjoys fishing and hunting.