Spectre & Co., a new Scarsdale-based e-commerce startup, was founded in early 2013 with one goal in mind: to make luxury-quality, slim fit dress shirts available to the fashion-conscious man at extremely affordable prices. “Men are learning to dress better and better everyday, and menswear has never been as big as it is right now,” says Jeffrey Zhang, Scarsdale native and founder of Spectre & Co. “But, the one thing that hasn’t really improved much, at least when it comes to high-quality shirting, is price. We want to change that. The shirt, whether dressy or casual, is the staple of a man’s wardrobe, and it should by no means cost an arm and a leg. Our target demographic is the man that loves quality menswear, but isn’t always willing to spend $150, $100, or even $75 on that perfect dress shirt.” The majority of the retailer's offerings are under $50.
The idea came about last summer, when he was looking to buy the perfect white dress shirt for a wedding. “I was so surprised at the trouble I was having finding a high-quality but affordable white shirt that also fit well,” says Zhang. While looking, he found that more affordable big box retailers had issues with quality and fit, while the shirts from higher-end stores were too expensive, with prices that ranged anywhere from $100 to $200. Shopping online was a little better. “I was extremely impressed by how much thought online shirtmakers put into fit, quality, and customer service, but many of them were advertising $100 shirts as affordable, which I found more than a little jarring. I ended up paying $125 for that perfect white dress shirt from an online store. It’s a great shirt, but I wasn’t quite happy with how much I paid for it.” That’s where Spectre & Co. comes in. “I love the menswear revolution, and it’s fantastic that men are taking the time to improve their appearances, but at times, it’s not the most price-accessible of movements. We want to make it so that even the most budget-conscious guy can afford quality shirting that fits.”
Customers can learn more about the company and dress shirt fit at the Spectre & Co. website.Spectre & Co.’s high threadcount, 100% two-ply cotton, slim fit dress shirts start at just $45, with free shipping in the United States as well as free returns for first-time customers. The shirts come in a standard slim fit measured by neck and sleeve size, and are constructed with less fabric in the torso and waist to prevent billowing, for a look that is both stylish and comfortable.
Spectre & Co. employs a completely vertically integrated production process with no middlemen, which means that costs are kept low and that from the mills abroad to the racks in New York, every detail, stitch, and button falls under one standard of quality with one person in mind: the customer. Spectre & Co.'s ownership of production and distribution without third parties keeps the lines of communication clear and creates value that the end consumer can see. The company also has over 100 years of combined experience in the garment industry, with pedigrees in the design and production team from renowned shirtmakers such as Ascot Chang.
For more information about the company, product, or sample merchandise, please contact Jeffrey Zhang at jzhang@shopspectre.com or by phone at 914-589-0982.
