James Perse

Evelyn Waugh once said of New York, “For in that city there is neurosis in the air which the inhabitants mistake for energy.” The enigmatic bustle of The City That Never Sleeps is as undefinable as it is addictive. Today, our journey takes us to the antitheses of said city; over on the west coast of the United States, to the contrasting, laid-back cool of Los Angeles, California.

If a brand can embody a city, a state or a way of life, James Perse is it. Mr Perse, born in Los Angeles to the owner of cuting edge LA based boutique; Maxfield, was weaned on an eclectic mix of fashion and the beach. The influences in his younger years which would shape his future.

In 1994 Perse launched a t-shirt line, which quickly gained in popularity – owing to his eye for seamlessly blending luxury with easy-to-wear casual basics. 1996 saw the first ‘James Perse’ collections (for women); Standard James Perse for high-quality basics and James Perse Los Angeles for ready-to-wear items. And in 1998 the much anticipated men’s collection arrived.

The James Perse brand encompasses Perse’s passion for warm Californian outdoor living, a love for minimalist architecture, and a sartorial focus on elegance and comfort, pairing sophistication with simplicity.

James Perse opened its first retail store in the US in 2003, and have since grown in to Canada, England and Japan.

JamesPerse.com