Peerless mens tailored clothing has lived up to its name for over a century, producing the finest suits, sport coats, tuxedos, topcoats and other quality formalwear to be found anywhere in North America. Wool plays an important role in the company’s output, so naturally, International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) has an interest in their work. We were delighted when the President of Peerless Clothing International, Dan Orwig, made a presentation at our Wool Round Table in December. The presentation gave the attendees a rundown of the company’s history and plans for the future.
A Long, Proud History In Formal Menswear
“It’s an exciting time,” Dan Orwig says. “We feel fortunate to be leaders in a space that has rebounded so strongly with the consumer.”
Orwig was referring to the recent resurgence in formal wear, especially in the special occasions sector and continued opportunity in the business sector, which has tended to veer towards a more casual aesthetic for the last few decades. This is an exciting development for Peerless Clothing International, as it has been at the forefront of quality men’s formal wear since 1919, and has led key trends in the market ever since.
Built by the late Alvin Segal and headquartered in Montreal, Peerless has been synonymous with fine formal wear since its founding. Its collections have been available, year after year, in the best-known retailers across the continent, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Hudson’s Bay, Bloomingdales, and Dillard’s.
In addition to featuring wool prominently, Peerless adheres closely to the latest trends throughout their collections. This includes everything from relaxed fits to an homage to heritage fabrications like herringbone, pinstripe, and houndstooth plaid.
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A Movement Back To Natural Fibres
“For the modern sartorial dresser,” Orwig says, “the marriage of natural fibres with performance properties has brought a revolution in comfort and functionality.”
Natural fibres, as found in popular fabrics such as flannels, speckled wools, tweed, cashmere, and boiled wool, are seeing a major resurgence in the formalwear sector. These fibres are beautiful, comfortable and durable, and also offer environmental benefits, being biodegradable and recyclable.
As the largest manufacturer and distributor of formal menswear in Canada and the United States, Peerless has an important role to play as supporter and ambassador of the wool industry – a role it takes very seriously.
“Peerless will always stand behind wool,” Orwig asserts.
So what can consumers expect from Peerless’s latest collections?
“We’re seeing nice activity in sport coats: softer shoulder, half lined, open patch pockets. Consumers are getting very comfortable with this look,” Orwig says.
“In suits, we believe the market is staying dressy. We love double breasted styles, and initial reads have been good, from a relaxed double breasted sport coat to a double breasted pinstriped suit. We see looser models appearing on designer runways, and we’re loosening it a bit. Nothing too extreme but easing the thigh and calf so the pant shows more drape and flow.”
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