LIFESTYLES | IKE BEHAR
FASHION ICON The dress shirt aficionado, who partnered with Ralph Lauren for 12 years, is now bringing his designs to Washington. arlier this year, Ike Behar opened in Georgetown, offering discriminating customers the company’s signature dress shirts, colorful ties and made-to-last suits made in the USA, as well as Mexico, Peru, Canada and Italy. From 1970 until 1982, the Cuban-American designer partnered with Ralph Lauren in a shirtmaking business based in the Bronx. Behar sat down with Washington Life to talk about his family’s long career in men’s fashion.
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day a catalogue came out. On one page there was a photo of Polo by Ralph Lauren shirts and on the facing page there was a photo caption which read, “Shirt by Ike Behar.” Ralph called me in and accused me of competing with him. He offered an ultimatum, so I left the company, to start my own company. I have work integrity, and at the time I think I had a lot of unfulfilled ambition.
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WAS IT ALWAYS THE PLAN FOR THIS TO BE A FAMILY BUSINESS? My wife HOW DID IKE BEHAR GET STARTED? Regina had just finished college and was My father was a custom tailor in Havana in going to begin a career and she decided the 1950s. When I was 15, I started helping it would be better if we were a team. She him with his customers, measuring and became my promoter and sales person. fitting them, and delivering their shirts and We started “Shirts by Ike” in 1981. At first, suits around the city. By the time I was 16, I Regina shared half the showroom with Lawrence, Regina and Ike Behar at their new was sewing up the suits. another salesperson and the business grew boutique, 2900 M Street NW strictly by word of mouth. Now we are sold HOW DID YOU COME TO AMERICA? I followed my two brothers to in all 50 states and several countries. New York in 1952.Three months later they enlisted me into the U.S. Army. Six months later I was in the Korean War, fighting for my new country. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO HAVE YOUR PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO BE MADE IN AMERICA? In America they follow the integrity up HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR WIFE? Regina lived across the street from with the product. I always say no to cutting corners, because that lowers me in the Bronx. We saw each other through the window and I signaled the value of the product. for her to write her number down. It was love at first sight. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE COMPANY? Being HOW DID YOU MEET AND START WORKING WITH RALPH together, as family. It makes me happy that these things are going to LAUREN? After the Army, I went to work sewing for a custom shirt continue. maker.When the store went out of business in 1957, Ralph approached me to see if I wanted to go into business with him. He was a specialty tie maker WHAT IS THE APPEAL OF YOUR BRAND AMONG MEN? First the and no one had ever heard of him. In 1969 we opened up a store together quality. Second, the colors. Integrity of the product is my favorite saying. called “Andrew’s Shirt Company” in the Bronx. We worked together for That’s appealing to a lot of men. 12 years. It was a great meeting of the minds. We both understood what the other wanted.” WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME TO WASHINGTON? It’s an international city that is growing rapidly.We wanted to be a part of the change. WHO WAS MENTOR TO WHOM? That’s a tough one. I was just the shirt maker and Ralph was the brains. He definitely had a mind for business, WHY WAS WASHINGTON A TARGET? Washington is behind other especially for marketing. It was exciting work for me because Ralph had all cities as a fashion town. It’s coming into its own.The city is definitely genof these ideas for building a brand and for expansion, and I was this young, trifying. When President Obama came into office, a younger crowd came naïve, Cuban with a lot of talent, but not knowing much about marketing in and that’s when styles started to get trimmer and slimmer fitting. plans. But Ralph did, so we really blended our talents well. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF IKE BEHAR? The future of the company is HOW DID YOU SPLIT UP? The split happened when Ralph discovered retail. Our plan is to have 50 stores open in the next five years.We’re trying Hong Kong. But the outsourcing to countries like that resulted in lower- to bring the haberdasher back into vogue. Initially we’re going into places quality shirts.The stores kept requesting specific Ike-made shirts.Then one where people still dress up.
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