By Robert James - Why Made NYC USA
A quick who what and why of our Made USA brand!
Why I Make in NYC — The By Robert James Story
Seventeen years ago, I launched By Robert James with a simple mission: to make timeless, handsome menswear with a tough, independent twist. What started in a brick-and-mortar shop on the Lower East Side—where we dressed musicians, artists, locals, and world travelers—has evolved into something even more personal.
Today, By Robert James is a small batch, made-to-order menswear brand, with every garment crafted in the heart of New York City’s historic Garment Center. And I don’t just mean “designed in New York”—I mean made here, by real people whose hands, skills, and artistry bring each piece to life.
Why NYC? Why the Garment Center?
Because this is where American fashion was born.
Because this is where it’s worth fighting to keep it alive.
A Century of Craftsmanship
The NYC Garment District, once the epicenter of American fashion production, reached its peak in the early 20th century.
By 1910, 70% of the nation’s women’s clothing and 40% of its men’s clothing were made right here in New York City.
By 1931, the Garment District had the largest concentration of clothing manufacturers in the world, stretching from Sixth to Ninth Avenues and West 30th to West 42nd Streets.
This was a bustling hub powered by tens of thousands of immigrant workers, skilled craftspeople who built America’s reputation for quality clothing.
But after World War II, things changed.
Production moved south, west, and eventually overseas in search of cheaper labor and materials. By the 1980s, much of the manufacturing had left the Garment District, with small pockets of production form 40th to 35th streets still in business with all the needed infastuture need to laucncha and maintain a Fashion business even today. Even if Today, there only a fraction of this once-mighty industry remains it still important and still vital to making NYC a culture and design hub not just a finance and biz capitol.
Why This Matters To Me—and To You
After spending the first seven years of my career designing mass-market fashion for major retailers—Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, JCPenney, and Macy’s—I knew I wanted something different for By Robert James.
I had been to factories around the world. I saw firsthand what happens when you’re too far removed from the making of your own goods. Quality suffers. Transparency disappears. And workers—real people—often bear the brunt.
When I started my own brand, I made a commitment:
✅ Hands-on production.
✅ Ethical manufacturing.
✅ Building relationships with the makers behind the garments.
And I found all of that, right here, in New York City’s Garment Center.
For over 17 years, I’ve worked closely with the same factory, the same craftspeople. Through good times and hard times—like the pandemic shutdowns—we’ve stuck together. At one point, By Robert James alone helped keep two factories alive with over $200–300K in orders a year. Now, as they fight to stay open, I’m fighting right alongside them.
When you buy By Robert James, you’re not just buying a shirt or a jacket.
You’re helping sustain a historic NYC garment factory and the people who make it work.
Why Small Batch? Why Made-to-Order?
Because it’s better—for you, for me, and for the Garment Center.
Small batch and made-to-order means no wasteful overproduction. It gives us the flexibility to focus on what we do best—well-made, timeless menswear—and constantly evolve our designs.
Every piece is a real collaboration between artist and artisan, where I work directly with the patternmakers, cutters, and sewers to make something special.
And when I say limited, I mean it: many of our garments are made in runs of 12 pieces or fewer. Each made to the customers specs and taste!
What Makes a By Robert James Garment Different?
We take inspiration from classic menswear and reinterpret it for modern life. No loud logos. No gimmicks.
We focus on clean lines, strong silhouettes, and luxury fabrics with a rugged edge.
You’ll know a BRJ piece by its four-button sleeve placket—our subtle signature of craft and quality. But more importantly, you’ll feel the difference in the make and fit of every piece.
Why By Robert James, Why Now?
Because NYC Made still means something.
Because the Garment Center’s story isn’t finished yet.
And because when you wear a By Robert James garment, you’re part of a living tradition.
You’re supporting real people. Real craft.
And keeping a piece of New York’s fashion history alive.
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