Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation

In 1881, Moses Phillips and his wife Endel began sewing shirts by hand and selling them from pushcarts to local Pottsville PA coal miners. This grows into a shirt business in New York City that places one of the first ever shirt ads in the Saturday Evening Post.

In the early 1900’s, Vin Draddy starts a men's apparel business and needs a strong name to associate with his quality merchandise. Vacationing in London, he encounters an elegant tailor shop in London, Jack IZOD’s. Jack, a well-respected tailor who made custom shirts for King George VI and other royalty, is ready to retire and accepts Vin’s offer to purchase the rights to his distinctive name.

In Holland, John M. Van Heusen creates a comfortable, self-folding collar. Traveling to the United States to find a partner, he meets Seymour Phillips, Moses’ son. Together they form the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation.

In 1919, a patent is granted for the collar. In 1921, the revolutionary new collar is introduced to the public with immediate and overwhelming success.

In 1922, Phillips-Van Heusen arranges production in England with J & J Ashton and Robert M. Moody. Seven years later, the Collarite Shirt the first collar-attached shirt is introduced.

Van Heusen collar-attached shirts are advertised across the United States in 1939. In the fifties, celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Charleton Heston and Mickey Mantle join the marketing effort. Legendary tennis player René Lacoste partners in marketing a new pique knit. IZOD’s popularity soars as an increasing number of celebrities are seen wearing IZOD shirts.

In 1982, PVH launches Geoffrey Beene shirts, today the #1 selling designer dress shirt in America.

In 1991 Van Heusen becomes the #1 selling dress shirt brand in America.

In 1995 PVH acquires IZOD one of the greatest brand names in America for knit shirts.

In 1998 the Company successfully introduces DKNY dress shirts under a licensing arrangement with Donna Karan, increasing the wide spectrum of positioning it holds in this important designer segment.

In 2000, the Van Heusen brand, which was managed separately in both the U.S.A. and Britain becomes one as Phillips-Van Heusen acquires the worldwide rights to the Van Heusen name, now becoming the number one dress shirt brand in the world.

Also in 2000, PVH agrees under license to add Kenneth Cole to its designer Dress Shirt group and acquires the license for Arrow, a major competitor, complementing our mid-tier store brands sold chiefly through Sears, Kohl’s and Mervyn’s.

In 2002, PVH begins a new era with the acquisition of the Calvin Klein company.


Certificate: Common Stock, issued in the 1960’s

Printer: Security-Columbian Bank Note Company

Dimensions: 8” (h) x 12” (w)

State: NY-New York

Subject Matter: Clothing and Accessories

Vignette Topic(s): Allegorical Featured

Condition: Vertical fold lines, punch hole cancels in the signature areas and body, and some toning and edge faults from age.