Brooks Brothers Names Zac Posen Women’s Creative Director

Brooks Brothers has hired designer Zac Posen as its new creative director for its women’s apparel and accessories collection. Posen will lead the existing women’s design and merchandising teams and work on brand development. His first collection will launch for spring 2016.

“We are thrilled to have Zac join us as creative director of our women’s collection,” said CEO Claudio Del Vecchio. “As soon as we met, it was clear to us that he had a true understanding of our brand and its storied 196-year heritage as well as the creativity to modernize our offerings within the category,” he added.

“I am truly honored and excited to be embarking on this incredible opportunity to take the Brooks Brothers women’s brand into the future while respecting its deep, rich American heritage as an institutional company,” said Posen.

Brooks Brothers’s women’s apparel collections date back to 1874. The company says its women’s wear got a boost in 1949 when it collaborated with Vogue, the women’s fashion magazine, on a pink oxford shirt. A full women’s department didn’t appear at Brooks Brothers until 1976. Women’s is currently about 20 percent of total sales.

The company continues to work with designer Thom Browne on the Black Fleece men’s label, which launched in 2007.

Photo of Zac Posen by Steven Pan.