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Hickey Freeman

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Hickey Freeman
IndustryClothing
Founded1899; 125 years ago (1899)
FounderJeremiah G. Hickey
HeadquartersRochester, New York
Key people
List
  • Emmett Baum (Vice-President, 1908)
    Morton J. Baum (President, 1959-1963)
    Walter B. D. Hickey(President, 1963-1976)
    Walter B. D. "Duffy" Hickey, Jr.(President, 1976-1984)
    Gasper Tirone(President, 1984-1988)
    Homi Patel (President, 1988-1992)
    Steven Weiner(President, 1992-1998)
    Paulette Garafalo(President, 1998-2008)
    Stephen Granovsky(President, 2008-Present)
ProductsSuits
Websitehickeyfreeman.com

Hickey Freeman is a manufacturer of suits for men and boys, based in Rochester, New York, US, founded in 1899. The Hickey-Freeman Co. is the most distinguished of the once booming men's clothing industry based in Rochester at the start of the 20th century. Hickey Freeman tailored clothing continues to be made in the same storied Rochester facility opened in 1912.[1]

The Hartmarx Corporation bought the company in 1964 and after several changes of ownership, Grano Retail Investments acquired the company including the Rochester factory in 2013. Authentic Brands Group currently owns the brand.[2] Hickey Freeman is not affiliated with the similarly-named H. Freeman, a brand owned by Individualized Apparel Group.[3]

History

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During the 1880s and 1890s, Jeremiah G. Hickey (1866–1960) was a bookkeeper for Wile, Brickner & Wile, then the largest manufacturer of men's clothing in Rochester. His close friend Jacob L. Freeman (died 1925) was a private contractor of the firm. Together with fellow Wile, Brickner & Wile employees Thomas Mahon and George A. Brayer, they formed Hickey, Freeman, & Mahon Co. in 1899. Since Jeremiah ("Jerry") Hickey contributed the most capital, and Mahon made no original investment, the name was changed in 1900 to the Hickey-Freeman Co.

In 1902, the company was able to take over the business and the larger premises of Michael Kolb & Co. Hickey-Freeman grew even more, and in 1908 it merged with Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co., retaining the Hickey-Freeman name. The president of Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co. was Emmett Baum, who became vice-president of Hickey-Freeman Co. after the merger. Baum was largely responsible for Hickey-Freeman's decision in 1908 to manufacture only high quality clothing. At that time, ready-to-wear suits were seldom made with hand-craftsmanship of any quality, but Hickey-Freeman recognized the importance of quality in the manufacture of men's clothing.

By 1912, Hickey-Freeman Co. had amassed enough capital and business to build a larger, more modern factory on N. Clinton Ave. on the city's northern outskirts. Known as The Temple, this location was chosen in order to retain the company's skilled workers, after a survey showed that a majority of the company's employees lived within walking distance of this area. Although the new factory was one of the most complete facilities of its kind in the country, it became necessary for Hickey-Freeman to add space to the building twice more during the 1920s, to accommodate the company's increased volume and over 1,700 employees.

In 2004, the factory underwent extensive renovations, funded in part by $4 million in state taxpayer money and $1 million from Rochester city taxpayers.[4]

In 2012, Authentic Brands Group, an intellectual property corporation with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands, purchased Hickey Freeman along with HMX's other properties.

In 2013, Grano Retail Investments Inc., also owner of luxury tailored menswear brand Samuelsohn Ltd., acquired the assets of Hickey Freeman including the Rochester, NY factory. Today, Hickey Freeman tailored clothing continues to be made in the same storied Rochester facility, as it has been since 1899.[5]

In 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak, Hickey Freeman shifted its production to manufacture masks and other protective equipment for doctors and medical workers.[6]

On May 18, 2023, it was announced that the manufacturing of Hickey Freeman branded suits would be moved to Mexico .[7] The Rochester factory will continue to make clothing for other brands, so all workers were able to keep their jobs.[8] Peerless Clothing acquired the rights to design and manufacture Hickey Freeman clothing.[9] The factory also announced plans rebrand as "Rochester Tailored Clothing", and will be opening a retail store in Rochester.[9] The Tom James Co. purchased the former Hickey Freeman factory in 2023.[10]

Presidents

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Presidents/CEOs
Name Tenure
Jeremiah G. Hickey 1899–1959
Morton J. Baum 1959–1963
Walter B. D. Hickey 1963–1976
Walter B. D. "Duffy" Hickey, Jr. 1976 – 1984
Gasper Tirone- 1984-1988
Homi Patel (Hartmarx Corp) 1988-1992
Steven Weiner 1992-1998
Paulette Garafalo 1998 - 2008
Stephen Granovsky 2008 - Present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hickey Freeman returns to quality
  2. ^ Authentic Brands Group: Hickey Freeman
  3. ^ IAG brands
  4. ^ Lowell, Bud. "$7 Million Aid Package Keeps Hickey Freeman in Rochester". WXXI. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ Grano, Owner Of Menswear Brand Samuelsohn, Acquires Hickey Freeman License And Factor [1]
  6. ^ Nelson, Joshua (27 March 2020). "New York menswear company shifts to producing protective equipment as CEO cites funding challenges". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Hickey Freeman brand clothes will no longer be made in Rochester starting in June". RochesterFirst. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  8. ^ "Presidents wore their suits. But after 124 years, Hickey Freeman says goodbye to Rochester". WXXI News. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  9. ^ a b "Hickey Freeman to end production of iconic suits in Rochester, shifts focus to other brands". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  10. ^ https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2023/06/29/tom-james-company-to-acquire-former-hickey-freeman-factory-in-rochester-ny/70368657007/
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