Spirit of the South: The Seersucker Suit & From Whence It Came

Spirit of the South is a new series from Molly McWilliams Wilkins and Southern Bon Vivant highlighting certain iconic Southern staples and the people behind them.

 

A few weeks ago, I realized it was National Seersucker Day. Shame on my Southern Belle self for not realizing it sooner, and not soon enough to conduct this interview that day. You see, in that moment I knew I wanted to write about what should be a national day off kind of holiday- after all, it’s worth celebrating this glorious suit which allows our men and women and children to look so dashing and dapper even in our blistering heat.

 

But perhaps I should stop beating around the proverbial bush. I got to interview Laurie Haspel Aronson, great granddaughter of the man who invented the seersucker suit. Just imagine the squeal of delight when I received a prompt response to my email request. Sure, I could have thrown up a quickly drafted post- but I wanted to talk to someone who would really give me an insight in to the Haspel brand.

 

I honestly didn’t anticipate getting to do a phone interview, after all- this is the family that invented the seersucker suit!

 

And may I say, Laurie was so sweet to talk to me while she was on her family vacation.

 

I learned that Laurie’s great grandfather took this fabric, “ a laborer’s fabric” and turned it into the tailored suit once he realized the fabric was better than the heavy wool used at that time for suits. Can you imagine? Our current 90+ degree weather and having to wear heavy woolen suits?

 

 

“ He took the laborers fabric, seersucker, and turned it into a tailored men’s garment. He was the one who was really credited with popularizing it,” Laurie said. “ He was really thinking about how to keep people cool.”

 

The company would later transition, as they tend to do, and would go through some changes.

 

“ In the 1950’s he worked on the wash and wear. My grandfather took over in the 50’s, and we had several cousins that were all in this together. In the 70s, there were a lot of larger companies that were buying smaller companies and that’s when my grandfather sold the company.”

 

Several years later our immediate family got wind of our name being part of a very large group of brands that was up for sale in the mid 90s, and decided that we were going to buy the Haspel name back. This was an exciting time for us because my grandmother was still living, and it was exciting for her to see.”

 

 

 

 

It would take a few years for this generation of Haspel’s to decide what they wanted to do with their newly purchased brand. I found out they are working on sportswear and other items as well.  “ We are introducing other categories than what people expect from Haspel, not just with seersucker but other fabrics as well.”

 

Polos, chinos, and other items are included in that sportswear line- still just for men at the moment. But womens and kids lines are in the future plans.

 

 

 

 

“ They all have a touch of Haspel- a touch of seersucker, so you know it comes from us.”

 

 

 

 

And then we spoke of seersucker itself, the way a man looks when he wears the seersucker suit.

 

“ There’s a confidence that comes with wearing a seersucker suit,” said Laurie. And she’s right. A man who can pull off a seersucker suit can exude a sexiness that can only come with also pulling off softness.

 

Then I got to hear something which just made my writer’s heart jump when I mentioned my website name, Southern Bon Vivant, asking her how Haspel fits into the life of a Southern Bon Vivant:

 

“My Haspel family uses that term all day long. So when I heard that you wanted to interview me I just loved it. Bon Vivant is something my mother says everyday. We use that term all the time.”

 

“ I talk a lot about attitudes, because I feel like that’s so much a part of fashion. I feel like people are many times afraid to try things- and people need to actually try items on that they are afraid of. I’ll go out shopping and I can try the same clothing over and over again, but it takes something else to give you an honest opinion and making you get out of your comfort zone. So it’s all about attitude when you put a piece of clothing on. And then you will look great.”

 

 

 

 

And then I had to ask what makes up her perfect Southern Weekend, since I manage that site: “ It all revolves around entertaining. Growing up in my family we loved to entertain. My grandparents had parties every weekend. They would have music every time, a piano player, and drinks for their friends. My parents did the same thing. It’s always about making people feel comfortable at your home, not always a super fancy event, but just having friends feel comfortable in your home. And of course sazaracs and mint juleps for whoever would dare. Just making friends feel welcome. It’s fun to bring people in and make them feel welcome in your home.”

 

Y’all, it was my absolute pleasure to get to interview Laurie Haspel Aronson, and I hope y’all have enjoyed this interview. I have been in love with seersucker suits from the age of 3- when my first “boyfriend” walked into church in a seersucker suit. There’s just something about them which ALWAYS do it for me. Always. And to get to talk to Laurie, I hope y’all understand just how excited I am about this.

 

 

 

I will leave you with this closing quote from Laurie, which I think really sums this up well:

“ I love the fact that I can see seersucker- no matter who it’s by- and know we started that. It makes me very proud. I always say that we were the originator- not the imitator.”