The popular men's clothing brand, Rowing Blazers, founded by Jack Carlson in 2017, has recently sold a majority stake to Burch Creative Capital (BCC) and to Tom Vellios, co-founder of Five Below, and Jason Epstein, partner at Stonecourt Capital. These two investors are co-investing with BCC, which is also the investment firm established by Chris Burch. Rowing Blazers now joins the prestigious list of brands owned by BCC such as Staud, Solid & Striped, Danielle Guizio, BaubleBar, and Tory Burch.
This strategic move will enable Rowing Blazers to recruit key personnel, launch their women's line, expand their reach, and increase their retail presence. Their first step will be opening a new flagship store in Manhattan in the Fall of 2024. This announcement follows a successful year for Rowing Blazers, highlighted by major collaborations with top brands like Gucci and Target.
According to Burch,"Jack [Carlson] has created an extraordinary brand that is reminiscent of my first apparel business, Eagle's Eye," said Burch. "With our expertise and a team of amazing humans, I am certain we can turn this into a global brand. It gives me great joy to partner with Jason Epstein and Tom Vellios on this acquisition. They are two extraordinary entrepreneurs, deal makers and brand creators."
Burch is widely recognized as the co-founder of Tory Burch, but he initially entered the fashion industry with his novelty sweater company, Eagle's Eye. Its distinct and eccentric style quickly captured the hearts of customers. Burch's customer-centric approach is evident in all of his businesses. He prioritizes his customers above himself, stating, "My customer always comes first, and I come last." This same mindset will guide his management of Rowing Blazers, as he intends to expand the brand's presence in different markets and product categories to cater to the customer's desires.
In 2017, Burch's close friend Carlson, who is a designer and archaeologist and was previously a member of the U.S. rowing team, teamed up with co-founder David Rosenzweig to create Rowing Blazers. The brand has become known for its playful and colorful take on the traditional preppy style, as well as its collaborations with a variety of well-known brands such as Seiko, Barbour, Tudor, Umbro, FILA, Noah, Tag Heuer, Gucci, and Target. Additionally, Carlson worked with Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir, the original creators, to revive the iconic "Princess Diana" sheep sweater.
Carlson expressed his enthusiasm for teaming up with Burch Creative Capital and embarking on a new chapter in the journey of Rowing Blazers.
"I am very excited to be partnering with Burch Creative Capital, and excited for a new chapter in the Rowing Blazers story," Carlson said. "This partnership will allow us to do things we couldn't do previously; it will also allow us to reach new people, and to provide better service and even better products to our existing community. I'm especially excited about developing women's. The demand is there, and I've seen how successful we've been with our women's sheep sweater and our women's collection for Target. There is no better partner for this next step than Burch Creative Capital and their partners, especially when it comes to excellence in production, operations, and quality — and when it comes to women's, Chris' record, from Tory Burch to Staud, speaks for itself."
The position of Creative Director will continue to be held by Carlson, while co-founder David Rosenzweig will continue to serve as Director of Strategy, with a specific emphasis on the brand's collaborative efforts and partnerships.
They will be joined by their inaugural Chief Financial Officer to facilitate the brand's growth. Grant Simm has recently joined Rowing Blazers as CFO, coming from his previous role as CFO at Aime Leon Dore where he played a key role in the brand's rapid expansion and acquisition by LVMH Luxury Ventures.
Simm was excited to join Rowing Blazers, Jack, and Burch Creative Capital.
"I am thrilled to be joining Jack, Burch Creative Capital, and the dynamic team at Rowing Blazers," said Simm. "I'm looking forward to helping drive the strategic and financial development of this multi-channel brand that already resonates with so many people around the world."
