Co-founders Jacob Hurwitz and David Neill lead American Trench, a brand focused on quality menswear made in the USA, blending classic design with ethical production practices.
American Trench, a fashion company based in Ardmore, is making waves in the menswear industry with a strong focus on American manufacturing and classic design. Co-founders Jacob Hurwitz and David Neill launched the brand in 2013 to create high-quality pieces that embody both aesthetics and practicality. “We make some pieces of classic menswear that guys can identify with as super useful investment pieces,” Hurwitz explained.
The brand garnered initial attention through Kickstarter with its signature trench coat, which Hurwitz claims is designed to have longevity—“You’re going to have it for 20 years.” This strong foundation has allowed American Trench to expand significantly. As of 2024, the company reported sales nearing $4 million, offering a wide range of products, including retro socks, linen trousers, and alpaca wool sweaters, with prices ranging from $14 to $849.
Creative Director Dheen Weening emphasizes the brand’s commitment to “Americana military heritage” and influences from “traditions of tailoring, Ivy League and prep.” American Trench also features a sub-brand, Orig. Equip., which focuses on clothing that is adjacent to workwear and sportswear.
The firm’s target market is comprised of individuals who value craftsmanship and ethical production. Weening describes this audience as those interested in creations that are “made with a lot of soul, ethically made, responsibly made, as local as possible and with a certain elevated kind of expertise.”
American Trench’s products are available through multiple channels, including its Ardmore storefront at 15 East Lancaster Avenue, which opened in 2023. The brand’s offerings are also featured in major retailers like Nordstrom, Free People, and Anthropologie, as well as local shops such as Franklin and Poe in Fishtown and P’s & Q’s on South Street.
While the materials used in their products are sourced internationally, all end-state manufacturing occurs in the United States. The company collaborates with at least 30 manufacturing partners nationwide, including in the Greater Philadelphia area. Hurwitz notes that his motivation for supporting American manufacturing stems from the economic downturn caused by the Great Recession in 2008, which he attributes partly to the decline of U.S. manufacturing.
“The events that led up to the housing market crash, and thus, the stock market crash in ’08, to me, were caused by the closing of manufacturing facilities and then the redistribution of workers toward building houses,” he expressed.
In addition to supporting American labor, Hurwitz identifies environmental factors as another key reason for adopting this manufacturing model. He remarked, “We have laws in this country with standards for pollution, and all of our factories have to comply [with] them,” asserting that domestic production aligns with more sustainable practices.
However, U.S. manufacturing entails a higher cost, which Hurwitz acknowledges reflects in the pricing of American Trench products. He insists that this investment is justified by the superior quality of materials and craftsmanship found in their offerings. “We’re making stuff in the United States, which has a high labor cost, so what we make has to be really nice,” he concluded.
Source: Noah Wire Services
