America's oldest apparel brand still in continuous operation, opened April 7, 1818 in Manhattan by Henry Sands Brooks, a 45-year-old former seafarers' provisioner who wanted to sell quality ready-made clothing to the era's gentry, one of the first US retailers to offer ready-to-wear at all rather than only bespoke. In the early 1900s, Henry's grandson John Brooks brought the button-down collar, the polo overcoat, Shetland sweaters and Harris Tweed sport coats back from British holidays, effectively founding what became American Ivy League style.