Arthur Benjamin Sugarman British entrepreneur Country: Great Britain

Biography of Arthur Benjamin Sugarman

Arthur Benjamin Sugarman, also known as Ben Sherman, was a British entrepreneur and the founder of the popular clothing brand 'Ben Sherman'. Born in Brighton, UK in 1925, Sugarman immigrated to the United States through Canada in 1946. He changed his nationality and became a naturalized American, as well as adopting a more resonant name.

After marrying the daughter of a California clothing manufacturer, Sugarman returned to Brighton where he acquired a small shirt factory. In the early 1960s, he noticed that British jazz enthusiasts, particularly those in London, had to purchase Oxford shirts from American brands such as 'Brooks Brothers', 'Arrow', and 'Hathaway' to imitate their jazz idols like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Oscar Peterson. These American shirts were only available through official importers who limited the market growth by inflating prices.

In 1963, Sugarman decided to produce similar shirts himself and also launched a collection of colorful and comfortable leisure and beachwear, which gained popularity in post-war Mediterranean Europe and the United States. The fashion-conscious representatives of various youth subcultures quickly embraced the new brand, especially as Sugarman used higher quality fabrics and materials compared to his international competitors.

Ben Sherman shirts became an iconic phenomenon in London clubs, worn by mods, rockers, and even skinheads. Guitars and Ben Sherman shirts formed an inseparable symbiosis within the youth culture of London at that time. In 1964, Ben Sherman opened a showroom on Carnaby Street in London, followed by his first store in Brighton. In 1968, 'Ben Sherman' released its first collection for women. In 1970, the brand introduced its first collection for boys.

When punk emerged on the British music scene in 1975, Sherman shirts also became an integral part of the punk musicians' image. Unfortunately, Ben Sherman passed away in 1987 and did not witness the rapid development of his creation.

In 2001, the company resumed the production of children's clothing, followed by the introduction of women's collections in 2002. In October 2010, a 'Ben Sherman' store opened on the renowned Savile Row.

Today, 'Ben Sherman' clothing is sold in London, Birmingham, Cologne, and Berlin, as well as in Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. It can also be found in Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland in New Zealand, as well as Cape Town, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.