這家擁有200多年曆史的男裝公司週三向債權人尋求法院保護,同時尋找買家。品牌現已經關閉了部份店舖,並準備關閉其美國工廠。以西裝著稱的它,與J Crew、JC Penney和Neiman Marcus一起成為這場大流行的商業犧牲品。

公司歷史可以追溯到1818年的Brooks Brothers,其服裝曾被數十位美國總統穿過,包括甘乃迪和奧巴馬。目前在全球經營約500家門店,其中約一半在美國,員工超過4000人。自2001年起,品牌由意大利商人Claudio Del Vecchio持有,其家族創立了Luxottica。 1988年至2001年期間,它曾被英國馬莎百貨公司擁有。

WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk in the Inaugural Parade on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the US. He is wearing a Brooks Brothers suit and overcoat. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk in the Inaugural Parade on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the US. He is wearing a Brooks Brothers suit and overcoat. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

A male model wearing a striped vest of imported silk with pearl buttons, and a Brooks Brothers suit, November 1952. (Photo by William Grigsby/Condé Nast via Getty Images)

A male model wearing a striped vest of imported silk with pearl buttons, and a Brooks Brothers suit, November 1952. (Photo by William Grigsby/Condé Nast via Getty Images)

隨著更隨意的辦公室服裝成為標準和網上店競爭加強,Brooks Brothers受到了影響,在流行病發生之前,該公司一直在探索出售可能。品牌表示,預計將在未來幾個月內完成這一進程。

Brooks Brothers成為經典美國品牌。有功於在美國普及了preppy風格男士的主打產品,包括madras印花、西服套裝、格紋襪子和永遠不變的鈕扣襯衫等長青款式。在法庭文件中,該公司表示,它的資產和負債都在5億到10億美元之間。

Brooks Brothers store in Serrano street of Madrid, this is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States and it is iknown for classic clothing, Salamnca District of Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Images)

Brooks Brothers store in Serrano street of Madrid, this is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States and it is iknown for classic clothing, Salamnca District of Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Images)

上月,Del Vecchio在接受《紐約時報》採訪時談到美國三家工廠的關閉時表示,公司正在採取措施確保其生存。該公司在紐約、馬薩諸塞州和北卡​​羅來納州的工廠僱傭了近700名員工。此外,該公司已經表示將關閉美國的51家門店。Del Vecchio說︰「行業的逆風只會因這場大流行而加劇,尋求保護以促進業務的有效出售是公司實現目標的最佳下一步,而不是任何其他選擇。」

即使有人收購這個百年經典品牌,但如果不大力改革,在後新冠疫症年代,都仍難生存下去。試想想,在大量公式場合的減少,家居辦公室增加的情況之下,還有需要穿著那麼多的上班正裝嗎?

 

FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 10: A model walks the runway at the Brooks Brothers show during the 93. Pitti Immagine Uomo at Fortezza Da Basso on January 10, 2018 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Stefania M. D'Alessandro/Getty Images)

FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 10: A model walks the runway at the Brooks Brothers show during the 93. Pitti Immagine Uomo at Fortezza Da Basso on January 10, 2018 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Stefania M. D'Alessandro/Getty Images)