Erfgoed
Imagine New York sportswear for men with European influences. This is McGREGOR. Founded by David D. Doniger, a Scottish immigrant based in New York. His interpretation of the best of both worlds has led to great success and recognition.
1918: Doniger Bros
The Doniger Bros. Cap Factory was located at 663 Broadway from 1912 to 1922. The lettering is on the back of the building that runs from one side of the block to the other; on this side, the address is 230 Mercer St. The firm Doniger Bros. existed from 1894 to 1942. Before that, starting in 1889, one of the Doniger brothers, Jacob, ran a cap and hat factory on Bleecker St. The Doniger brothers were Jacob Doniger (1867-1921), Henry Doniger (c. 1872-1928), and the man this is all about: David Daniel Doniger (1874-1949).
1921: The Start
The American Dream: in 1921 David D. Doniger decided to leave his older brothers' hat and cap factory to start his own business. Like a true millennial - apparently they had them a century ago too - he decided to first take two years off for a sabbatical, to get inspiration in Europe.
A great idea, because in Scotland he came across the flat caps (think: Peaky Blinders) that he would import under the McGregor brand name; an instant hit in 1920s New York - where every man wore a head covering at the time.
1930: American Sportswear
David D. Doniger lived his American dream with a passion for outdoor sports, an inspiration he fully knew how to utilize. He transformed McGregor into an American sportswear brand with refined European influences, and thus created a unique mix of style, functionality, and innovation.
1949: The Drizzler
Doniger's last achievement, in 1949, was the introduction of The Scottish Drizzler, the first waterproof sports jacket. If there is one item we would call iconic, and characteristic of the McGregor brand, it is the Drizzler. The Drizzler was effortlessly casual, and a showcase for the technical innovation with which the brand was ahead of its time.
1951: The Heyday
McGregor becomes the market leader in American sportswear in the early fifties, with 7000 retail locations in the US and Canada and an annual turnover of $50 million.
1954: Golf
From the beginning of the fifties, a number of top American golfers were sponsored by McGregor, including Ed Furgo and the legendary Sammy Snead, the Tiger Woods of his time.
1955: Rebel without a cause
In 1955 no one had heard of the term 'influencer' yet, but when James Dean wore a red Drizzler in the iconic film Rebel Without A Cause, it caused an explosive increase in popularity. It made McGregor the undisputed market leader in casual wear at the time.
1957: Rene Gruau
McGregor enters into a collaboration with the famous fashion illustrator René Gruau. This results in a series of artistic advertisements that underline the progressive character of the brand and are still considered minor masterpieces of American advertising.
2019: Athleisure
We think it's great that the line between formal and casual is blurring. Although it doesn't have to completely disappear - there are limits. For example: sandals in which your toes are visible are unsuitable for an office environment, unless you have set up your flexible workplace somewhere on the terrace of a beach bar. But otherwise we firmly believe in the optimal combination of style and wearability - that is exactly what our Athleisure collection is all about.
2020: Return of the Drizzler
In 2020 the iconic sports jacket makes a comeback. An extensive collection, inspired by the classics, but completely reinvented for today's world.
