GANT - The Story by Mathias Björk

 

GANT - The Story by Mathias Björk

 In 1914, Ukrainian emigrant Bernard Gantmacher disembarked in New York City. He started manufacturing shirts in the 1920s and in 1949 established Gant Shirtmakers - a name destined to become the first men’s designer brand in the US.

In 1980, Lennart Björk, Klas Käll, and Staffan Wittmark obtained the licensing rights for Gant in Sweden. These three Swedish entrepreneurs can indisputable claim the fame for the international success of the brand. But, it wasn’t an easy journey. This book recounts their stubborn struggle against multinational corporations, short licensing terms, and repeated ownership changes of the US parent company. Eventually, they were presented with the opportunity to acquire the brand in 1999, and in 2006 Gant was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

Gant, now owned by the Swiss company Maus Frères, generates sales of close to 1.5 billion USD in more than seventy countries worldwide. The book highlights the entrepreneur-based business model, which has enabled the swift expansion. The author also gives insight into the fashion industry today, from sketchbook to in-store product.

  

The Writer

Mathias Björk was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. After completing a master’s degree in business administration at Stockholm University, he lived in New York City for several years where a brief modeling stint provided ample time and opportunity to start writing.

Mathias Björk is the author of the novel A Piece of My Heart (Big Bok Publishing House, 2007) and the nonfiction book GANT - The Story (Ekerlids Publishing House, 2008).

Occasionally copies of this book are for sale second hand on amazon and ebay.