IZOD

IZOD is an American apparel brand focused on moderately priced dress-casual clothing, menswear, sportswear, performance garments, footwear, and accessories. Its identity originated in the late 1930s, when Vincent dePaul Draddy of the David Crystal Company acquired the rights to the name of Arthur James “Jack” Izod, a respected London tailor. The A.J. Izod of London name was introduced in the United States in 1937 and became associated with quality men’s clothing. The brand’s most influential period began in 1952, when Draddy added René Lacoste’s French shirt business to the Izod range through a licensing arrangement. The resulting “Izod Lacoste” label became one of the defining American preppy products of the 1960s through the 1980s. Lacoste’s crocodile emblem was placed on polo shirts sold through the Izod distribution network, and the shirts became commonly known in the United States simply as “Izod” shirts. Public figures receiving or wearing the shirts helped overcome resistance to their relatively high original retail price, and the product gained broad department-store distribution. The partnership eventually became the source of persistent confusion between the IZOD and Lacoste trademarks. During the 1960s and 1970s, the combined label expanded beyond polo shirts into shorts, sweaters, footwear, fragrance, eyewear, watches, leather goods, and other lifestyle products. It reached peak cultural visibility in the United States during the late 1970s and 1980s, when the polo shirt became a recognizable component of preppy fashion. Competitive pressure came from brands such as Le Tigre, Chaps, and U.S. Polo Assn., while the corporate ownership and licensing structure around the brand changed several times. In the early 1990s, the former partners attempted to separate the two names and reposition them for different audiences. IZOD was developed as a more moderately priced department-store brand, while Lacoste pursued a more upscale lifestyle position. The licensing relationship ended in 1993. After Crystal Brands entered bankruptcy proceedings, IZOD was acquired by Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, now known as PVH, in 1995. PVH rebuilt the brand around men’s sportswear and broadened its range to include suits, shirts, neckwear, shoes, outerwear, fragrances, and accessories. The PVH era included experiments with women’s apparel, performance collections, golfwear, premium sportswear, retail stores, and international distribution. PVH closed its 120 IZOD retail outlets in 2015 because of increasing competition in the outlet channel, while continuing wholesale and online sales. The women’s business was discontinued at that time but later returned through licensing arrangements. Performance-oriented lines such as Advantage, Breeze, and Golf supplemented the core polo and casualwear business. In 2021, PVH sold IZOD, together with Van Heusen, Arrow, and Geoffrey Beene, to Authentic Brands Group. The transaction closed on August 2, 2021. ABG appointed Centric Brands to manufacture and market most IZOD men’s sportswear and related products under a long-term license. Other licensees handle categories including denim, footwear, tailored clothing, eyewear, accessories, children’s apparel, and home products. Under its current structure, IZOD remains an active lifestyle and apparel brand distributed through selected department stores, online retailers, and licensed channels. Its positioning emphasizes accessible American casualwear, classic sportswear, comfort technologies, and recognizable heritage products such as polos, sweaters, Harrington jackets, and performance golf apparel.

IZOD traces its name to Arthur James “Jack” Izod, a London tailor whose business and reputation attracted the attention of American menswear executive Vincent dePaul Draddy in the late 1930s. Draddy acquired rights to the distinctive name and introduced A.J. Izod of London in the United States in 1937. The name gave David Crystal Company merchandise a more distinctive identity and an association with bespoke tailoring. The decisive turning point came in 1952, when Draddy licensed Lacoste shirts for distribution through the Izod business. The original price was difficult to establish in the American market, so Draddy gave shirts to prominent acquaintances, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bing Crosby, and John F. Kennedy. Visibility among public figures and subsequent department-store adoption helped the shirts become a mass-market success. The combined name, Izod Lacoste, became especially prominent in the United States and was later shortened in popular usage to Izod. The arrangement also produced enduring trademark confusion because the crocodile emblem belonged to Lacoste rather than to IZOD. Lacoste’s American popularity grew substantially under Bernard Lacoste after he assumed management in 1964. By the late 1970s and 1980s, the polo shirt was a central item in American preppy style. The business broadened its assortment to include shorts, fragrances, optical products, sunglasses, tennis and deck shoes, walking shoes, watches, and leather goods. Competition included Le Tigre, which offered a similar fashion proposition with a tiger emblem, as well as later brands occupying adjacent department-store and value-fashion positions. The combined brand struggled in the early 1990s as its previous dominance weakened. Crystal Brands attempted to split the positioning: IZOD would serve a moderately priced apparel market, while Lacoste would be developed as a more luxurious lifestyle label. The partnership ended in 1993, and Lacoste was sold to Sportloisirs S.A. Crystal Brands subsequently entered bankruptcy proceedings, and PVH acquired IZOD in 1995. PVH restored IZOD as a broad American sportswear and dress-casual brand. The product range included polos, shirts, ties, suits, outerwear, shoes, fragrances, and accessories, with an IZOD crest used alongside other visual identifiers. PVH also experimented with women's apparel through a Kellwood licensing arrangement from 2003 to 2007, then operated the line internally until discontinuing it in 2015. The company closed all 120 IZOD retail outlets in 2015 but preserved wholesale distribution and online availability. Product development during the PVH period included Advantage performance clothing, golf collections, premium sportswear, seasonal casual collections, and licensed categories. The Advantage Polo, introduced in spring 2016, modernized the classic piqué polo with stretch, moisture management, and sun protection. Women's sportswear, golfwear, and activewear returned through a 2017 licensing agreement, although category availability changed repeatedly over subsequent seasons. IZOD also pursued European expansion beginning in fall/winter 2018. In 2020, PVH announced the closure of its remaining Heritage Brands stores, while emphasizing that IZOD's wholesale and online businesses would continue. In 2021, PVH sold IZOD and several related brands to Authentic Brands Group. The sale was announced on June 23 and completed on August 2. Under ABG, Centric Brands became the principal licensee for IZOD men's sportswear, while separate licensees continued to operate other categories. The contemporary IZOD business therefore combines an American heritage identity with a licensing-led operating model, emphasizing accessible casualwear, performance features, golf, seasonal collections, and selective retail distribution.

• 2021

  IZOD joins Authentic Brands Group

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  ABG completes its acquisition of IZOD from PVH and places most men's sportswear manufacturing and marketing with Centric Brands.

• 2018

  European expansion begins

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  The brand launches in selected European markets and later expands into additional European, Russian, and Middle Eastern markets.

• 2016

  Advantage Polo launches

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  IZOD introduces a stretch, moisture-wicking, sun-protective update to its traditional polo format.

• 2015

  IZOD closes its retail outlets

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  PVH closes 120 IZOD retail stores while retaining wholesale and online distribution.

• 1995

  PVH acquires IZOD

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  Phillips-Van Heusen acquires the brand after Crystal Brands enters bankruptcy proceedings.

• 1993

  The Izod-Lacoste licensing partnership ends

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  The two names are separated after a repositioning effort aimed at distinguishing moderate-price IZOD from luxury-oriented Lacoste.

• 1964

  Bernard Lacoste takes over management

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  Management under Bernard Lacoste precedes a major expansion in the popularity and product range of the combined label.

• 1952

  Izod begins its Lacoste shirt association

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  Draddy licenses Lacoste shirts, creating the influential Izod Lacoste identity in the United States.

• 1937

  A.J. Izod of London is introduced in the United States

  [1]Izoden.wikipedia.org

  Vincent dePaul Draddy introduces the acquired Izod name to the American menswear market through the David Crystal Company.

Accessible American classic-casual and sportswear brand positioned between value-oriented apparel and premium mass-market lifestyle labels, with particular strength in men's polos, department-store basics, golfwear, and comfort-focused performance clothing.

• Classic sportswear · 1952

  IZOD Polo Shirts

  The polo shirt is the brand's defining product category and the source of its strongest historical association with American preppy style. Current and past versions include traditional piqué constructions, seasonal colors, patterned designs, and performance-oriented fabrics. The product remains central to IZOD's accessible, department-store sportswear proposition.

• Performance apparel · 2016

  IZOD Advantage

  Introduced in spring 2016, Advantage is IZOD's performance-oriented collection. Its apparel uses features such as stretch construction, moisture-wicking materials, and sun protection. The line expanded beyond polos into fleece and button-down shirts and serves consumers seeking everyday clothing with athletic comfort technologies.

• Golf apparel

  IZOD Golf

  IZOD Golf provides men's golf shirts, shorts, pants, and related performance garments. The collection draws on the brand's sportswear heritage while emphasizing mobility, easy-care fabrics, and comfort suitable for recreational and lifestyle golf use.

• Relaxed menswear

  Saltwater Collection

  The Saltwater Collection is a relaxed men's assortment built around oxford and chambray shirts, chino shorts, lightweight polos, and casual T-shirts. Its visual language often incorporates nautical or warm-weather themes and complements IZOD's broader classic-casual positioning.

• Premium menswear

  IZOD Luxury Sport

  Luxury Sport, also known as LX, is the brand's premium men's sportswear concept. It has included higher-grade fabrics, more detailed finishing, tailored clothing, activewear, accessories, and leather goods. The line was discontinued in 2014 and later returned in a revised form beginning in 2023.

• Warm-weather apparel · 2017

  IZOD Breeze

  Breeze focuses on cooling comfort for warm-weather wear, using technologies such as CoolFX. It was developed from an earlier Breeze shirt concept, discontinued and consolidated with Advantage, and later revived as a separate collection.

• Denim

  IZOD Jeans

  IZOD Jeans covers denim essentials and related weekend sportswear. The category is operated through a separate licensing arrangement rather than the principal men's sportswear license.

• Outerwear

  Harrington Jacket

  The Harrington jacket, particularly the G-9 style, is one of the classic outerwear products associated with the IZOD heritage assortment. It supports the brand's connection to traditional casual menswear alongside sweaters, polos, and button-down shirts.

• 2021

  Sell IZOD to Authentic Brands GroupM&A

  Background

  PVH explored a sale of its Heritage Brands division, including IZOD and several affiliated labels.

  Action taken

  PVH sold IZOD to Authentic Brands Group, with the transaction completed on August 2, 2021.

  Aftermath

  ABG adopted a licensing-led structure and appointed Centric Brands to manufacture and market most IZOD men's sportswear.

  Source

• 2015

  Exit company-operated IZOD retail storesStrategy

  Background

  PVH cited an increasingly competitive outlet-retail environment and stronger premium brands in that channel.

  Action taken

  PVH closed all 120 IZOD retail outlets while maintaining wholesale accounts and online sales.

  Aftermath

  IZOD became more dependent on wholesale and digital distribution rather than a dedicated store network.

  Source

• 1993

  Separate IZOD from LacosteStrategy

  Background

  The combined Izod Lacoste proposition had weakened after its earlier period of dominance, and Crystal Brands sought to target distinct customer segments.

  Action taken

  IZOD was repositioned as a moderately priced apparel brand while Lacoste was developed as a more upscale lifestyle label; the licensing relationship subsequently ended.

  Aftermath

  The separation established IZOD as an independent American sportswear brand and ended the most important licensing relationship in its history.

  Source

1. 1Izoden.wikipedia.org