2024.02.13
Unraveling the History of New York-Born Workwear Brand 'SMITH'S AMERICAN'
Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1906, 'SMITH'S AMERICAN' was born during a construction boom in New York, a time when the demand for workwear was anticipated to increase.
Yusuke Ohta of Product ＆ Design Development at MINOYA CO., LTD. discusses how iconic items from SMITH'S AMERICAN, such as overalls and painter pants, transitioned into fashion items over time.
"At that time in the U.S., when President Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize, the company was known as the 'Brooklyn Overall Company'. SMITH'S AMERICAN began as one of their workwear brands.
"We believe the brand name, featuring the popular surname 'Smith' in the U.S., was chosen with the intention of gaining wide recognition across the entire country. We can infer that overalls were one of their main items back then, as images and materials from that period often depict those actively constructing New York City wearing overalls.
"The current owner of SMITH'S AMERICAN, a man named Lenny, is the third generation. He expanded the brand's field from workwear to the fashion scene during his active years from the 1960s to the 1980s.
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