Those who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s are familiar with twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who starred as Michelle Tanner in the sitcom Full House. The young actresses went on to become fashion moguls with several luxury brands including The Row, which is now expanding its lineup to include menswear.
The “premiere menswear collection” will include suits, jackets, shirts, knitwear, and denim. The suiting will be made in Japan and feature traditional European hand-stitch techniques. The shirting will be made in France, the knitwear in Italy, and the denim and T-shirts in the United States.
The Olsens have been testing the waters of men’s clothing over the past couple of years through partnerships with companies such as Italian footwear designer Enzo Bonafè, reports Fashion United. The Row will launch its full range of menswear items this fall.
“We did one menswear capsule collection many years ago, and in 2016 launched a retail menswear capsule,” Ashley said in a statement. “It was imperative that we received our customers’ feedback and to approach this collection thoughtfully at our pace.”
“The Row’s womenswear began without doing any press during its conception, sold with select wholesale partners. It’s important for us to do the research,” Mary-Kate Olsen added. “We want to be able to offer the menswear market those same core foundation pieces at a luxury level.”
The Olsens have focused on womenswear for over a decade and wants to offer men the same high-quality, tailored options for men.
“It’s funny because this is more of a risk than putting words on a T-shirt. Who knew that black, gorgeous, perfectly fitted suits would be a risk?” Ashley Olsen told WSJ magazine.
The line, which will debut in October, will concentrate on “the dedication to craftsmanship, exceptional fabrics and fine tailoring” that The Row has embodied, according to a press release.
The Olsens recently won the Accessory Designer of the Year award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. The label is named after Savile Row, a street in central London that is known for its bespoke tailoring or men.
The menswear collection will be available at The Row retail stores and its wholesale partners.
