THE HISTORY OF Seersucker Suits

Seersucker has its roots in the Middle East and gained popularity among English gentlemen who lived or traveled in hot climates, such as India, during the British Colonial era. The fabric made its way to the United States as early as the Civil War period, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became a menswear icon. This shift was largely due to New Orleans tailor Joseph Haspel Sr., who began crafting seersucker suits, and Brooks Brothers, which also claims to have introduced the fabric around the same time. By the 1920s, seersucker had become a staple on Ivy League campuses, embraced by both preppy students and professors. During World War II, the fabric took on a new role as the summer uniform for the US Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, with its distinctive “candy stripe” design becoming iconic. By the 1950s, seersucker suits were widely available at mainstream retailers like Sears and Macy’s. In the 1970s, the fabric found a new audience among young, urban African Americans, who adopted it as a nod to the railroad stripe or hickory stripe workwear worn by blue-collar workers in the early 20th century. Decades later, in the 2010s, seersucker experienced a resurgence as preppy styles returned to the forefront of fashion, partly inspired by films like The Great Gatsby (2013).