J. Press

J. Press is an iconic American menswear company founded in 1902 in New Haven, Connecticut, by Jacobi Press, a Latvian immigrant who arrived in the United States at the end of the 19th century. Located close to Yale University, the company quickly became popular among students and alumni of the prestigious university before establishing itself as one of the great names in East Coast American menswear.

Closely associated with the birth and development of Ivy League style, J. Press has embodied a distinctive vision of American elegance for more than a century: natural, understated and functional. Three-button jackets with natural shoulders, Oxford button-down shirts, pleated trousers, Repp stripe ties and Shetland sweaters form a wardrobe whose influence has spread far beyond American university campuses.

Among the house’s most iconic pieces is the Shaggy Dog Sweater, a Shetland wool sweater whose surface is brushed to create its distinctive soft and fuzzy texture. Now inseparable from the J. Press identity, it perfectly illustrates the brand’s philosophy: classic, comfortable garments designed to be worn for many years.

The history of J. Press also has particularly strong ties with Japan, where Ivy style experienced a major rise in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s. The company came under the ownership of Japanese group Onward Kashiyama in 1986, helping to further develop this unique connection between American culture and Japan’s passion for American Traditional style.

More than 120 years after its foundation, J. Press remains true to its roots, continuing to celebrate the classics of American Traditional and Ivy League style through garments with a remarkable ability to transcend generations and trends.