The founder of Canadian men’s clothing retailer Harry Rosen Inc. has died at 92.
Rosen passed away on Sunday, son Larry confirms
The Canadian Press
ยท
The founder of Canadian men’s clothing retailer Harry Rosen Inc. has died at 92.
Rosen opened his first made-to-measure menswear store onย Parliament Street in Toronto in 1954 along with his brother Lou andย ran the company for 51 years until his son, Larry Rosen, becameย chairย and CEO in 2005.
In a statement, Larry confirmed his father’s passing on Sunday,ย saying he “willed his business into existence one client at aย time.” He said Harry started “with a $500 loan and a dream.”
“His passion for menswear and fashion was contagious; hisย ability to teach and inspire were unparalleled,” the younger Rosenย said.
“The team he built and the values he instilled have helped theย business span across the country, three generations, and nearly 70ย years. Words simply can’t summarize the impact he had on us all.”
An Order of Canada recipient in 2004, Rosen was involved philanthropically in the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Corporate Fund for Breast Cancer, Cancer Care Fund, Mt. Sinai Friends for Life campaign, United Way, CAMH and UHN.
While the company bearing his name was known for dressing Canada’s most prominent elite in tailored suits, with 20ย stores across Canada, it had expanded in recent years to include a casual-wear collection.
“From Day 1, Harry’s vision was to become a genuinelyย international men’s boutique that exemplifies service, advice,
craftsmanship, personality and individualization in clothing andย accessories for men,” the company’s website states.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions curtailed officeย work and social events โ significantly slowing the demand for formalย wear โ the company ventured to break into a new category, grooming,ย and expanded its athetic-leisurewear offerings.
‘Aย visionary and a trueย gentleman’
The retailer also shifted existing brick-and-mortar relationshipsย between its staff and customers online, allowing its wardrobeย consultants to curate its website for clients down to specific sizeย and colour recommendations.
The company said two years ago that it was able to triple itsย e-commerce sales in 2020 โ reaching its 2023 target three yearsย early.
Rosen is survived by his wife of 68 years, Evelyn, along withย four children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, aย posting on the website of Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel said.
“He will be remembered for being a visionary and a trueย gentleman,” the posting stated.