(Shanghai, China) On Thursday May 24, Brooks Brothers hosted a special “blue”carpet event and fashion show at TKRI Taikoo Hui to commemoratethe American fashion brand’s 200th anniversary.The event followsglobal celebrations most recently in New York and also during Pitti Uomo in Florence. The evening was attended by over 300 guests and concluded with an exclusive brand dinner.

　　Guests were treated to a runway show in keeping with the original presentation within the grandeur of Palazzio Vecchio, where the first ever Brooks Brothers runway show was staged and featured modernized classic styles on the signature blue and gold catwalk. The collection was a nod to the brand’s founder Henry Sands Brooks, a “Disrupter” and the founder of classic American style.
　　Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers,hosted the evening alongside China and Hong Kong brand ambassador Louis Koo. Fashion and social royalty such as the Luu Brothers Mark, Lance and Charles, Mr.Bags, Mr.Kiraa and Ling Wu, all dressed in Brooks Brothers ensembles were also in attendance for the milestone event.

　　With models walking to a music score performed by a live symphony orchestra performing renditions of songs including Alicia Keys’ “New York State of Mind” and “Tonight” by Genesis, the show featured modern takes on iconic items from Brooks Brothers’ 200 year heritage including classics including the Button-down shirt and Rep tie often styled to pay homage to the brand’s most famous clients. A Rep tie worn as a belt, a style both favored and popularized byFred Astaire, or a wristwatch worn over the cuff as done by Italian industrialist and trendsetter Gianni Agnelli. Other men’s looks included tailored clothing and sportswear and outerwear from both the Brooks Brothers main line as well as the newly launched luxury collection called “Golden Fleece”. A selection from the women’s collectiondesigned by creative director Zac Posenfeatured an eclectic mix including an elegant Tuxedo, Satin pajama inspired pantsuit, printed sweater and tweed coat.

　　Some items are available in stores now while others are from the upcoming Fall/Winter 2018 collection. A limited edition button down shirt embroidered with “DISRUPTER” was seen in the show and is available to purchase with only 200 available.

　　Earlier in the evening, , Mr. Del Vecchio, together with Brooks Brothers executives Andy Lew, President International Wholesale and Uniform, Edith Chen, CEO of Asia Pacific, Lawrence Lam, Managing Director of Greater China, unveiled the brand’s HKRI Taikoo Hui store. As the only location in Shanghai featuring the luxury Golden Fleece collection from the famed 200-year-old American fashion brand, the Brooks Brothers store is located on the first floor of HKRI Taikoo Hui in the vibrant business section of Jingan District, with approximately 180 square meters of retail space. Its products include men’s and women’s fashion and accessories featuring thenewly released Spring-Summer 2018 lines, and the store aims to provide a diverse consumer base with a high-quality, one-stop shopping experience.
　　“We are proud and honored to bring this special event to Shanghai,” said Claudio Del Vecchio, “Tonight’s show as well as our ongoing expansion in China is a celebration of our continued innovation as a brand.” 
　　ABOUT BROOKS BROTHERS BICENTENNIAL
　　Brooks Brothers, America’s oldest retailer, reached its milestone 200-year anniversary on April 7th, 2018. Since opening its doors on April 7, 1818, in New York City, Brooks Brothers has grown from a small family haberdasher to become a global brand that has shaped and defined American style through its product innovations.
　　“Our anniversary this year marks a significant and historic milestone not only for Brooks Brothers but also for the retail industry,” said Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers. “This is a moment to celebrate two hundred years steeped in both tradition and innovation.”
　　American fashion today is a result of years of groundbreaking innovations and revolutionary disruptions by Brooks Brothers. While perhaps best known today as a “classic” brand, it is important to note that the brand’s founder, Henry Sands Brooks (1772 – 1833), was no traditionalist at all. He was actually a dandy and an influencer among his peers, always on the lookout for the newest and most novel styles for his emporium in lower Manhattan selling “every new style of cloth, of the finest quality, made to order in the best and most fashionable mode.”
　　It is therefore ironic that some of Brooks Brothers’ most classic items today were the result of either invention and innovation — many radical for their time. In fact, Brooks Brothers is responsible for the introduction and popularization of some of fashion’s most iconic and enduring items, including the navy blazer, the reverse striped rep tie, the polo coat and the Number One Sack Suit. Even today’s athleisure trend has its origins in Brooks Brothers’ adaptations of sports clothes for daily life — most notably the 1900 invention of the Original Polo® Button-Down Oxford shirt. Finally, Brooks Brothers was responsible for the single most significant contribution to fashion — ready-to-wear tailored clothing, which was introduced to America in the mid-1800s as a consequence of the Gold Rush.
　　This sartorial passion was passed down from Henry to his sons, Elisha, Daniel, Edward and John: the actual Brooks Brothers. These were fashion’s earliest influencers. For the past two centuries — and straight through to today — Brooks Brothers has outfitted an ever-changing world and is consistently pursuing quality and innovation, always with a respect for the past and an eye toward the future.
　　Throughout its history, Brooks Brothers has forged relationships for generations of customers: artists and politicians, working people and captains of industry, and Hollywood legends, as well as 40 out of 45 U.S. Presidents.
　　Today, Brooks Brothers currently has more than 280 stores in the United States and more than 700 locations internationally in 45 countries.
Brooks Brothers continues to lead with a pioneering spirit, continually developing materials and designs that deliver performance, innovation and high-quality design.