History of Van Heusen

The Van Heusen story began in 1881 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with Moses and his son Isaac Phillips who sold shirts, made at home by Moses' wife Endel and their daughters, to the local coal miners. After achieving success in this limited market, Moses Phillips expanded the operation to New York City. The family business had officially transitioned from small town to the national stage.

While the Phillips family was developing its business in New York, another key brand component was in development elsewhere. John Manning van Heusen, a Dutch immigrant, created a new process that fused cloth on a curve, fashioning a “soft-folding” collar that captured the stiff-collar look of the era while affording the wearer a more comfortable fit. In New York, Van Heusen met with Isaac Phillips, who bought Mr. Van Heusen's U.S. patent for his “soft-folding” collar, and the Phillips-Van Heusen alliance, and The World's Smartest Collar, were born. Later relocating to Saville Row London. Around the world Van Heusen now provides a full range of Business apparel, including Suiting, Ties, Accessories to Underwear.

Van Heusen shirts were imported in small quantities from England from the 1930's and a manufacturing plant was established in Melbourne in the mid 60's to meet the growing demand for the brand here in Australia.

Since becoming part of Gazal and manufactured under licence by us from 1976, we have established the Van Heusen brand as the dominant business shirt and suiting brand in Australia, created a loyal consumer following and developed a chain of supply from place of manufacture to point of sale that is coveted by many of our competitors.

Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation has since then acquired the rights to the name and the trademarks globally, continues to advance the recognition of the Van Heusen brand internationally and supports Gazal with product extensions in our territory.

Providing business shirts in multiple sleeve lengths like no other supplier in this country remains the core of our business and the competitive advantage. With up to 30 fit combinations in selected items and approximately 50 items overall in our current stock service range, the combinations of colours, sizes, styles and fits are formidable.

The Van Heusen brand is now also importantly linked to the international human rights movement via our USA licensor and all factories manufacturing any of our products must comply to a strict code of audited conditions. These encompass amongst other issues, minimum wages, hours of work, freedom of association, non-discrimination, no forced or child labour, health and safety standards plus environmental conditions.