Jack Carlson (a designer, archaeologist and former US national team coxswain) founded Rowing Blazers in New York in 2017, naming the label after his own book on rowing culture and its traditions. The brand takes classic prep style and deliberately opens it up, describing its approach as "a subversive, inclusive take on 'preppy' style and the classics" rather than a straight revival. It joined the Burch family of brands, alongside Staud and Solid & Striped, in 2024, while staying a small, New York-based team at its core.