While Google searching stories about Nishantha “Nish” de Gruiter, the Sri Lankan-born head of Suitsupply U.S., I caught a theme emerging among his photos.
“Do you have something against socks?” I asked the admitted “metrosexual” about his missing ankle wear. De Gruiter burst out laughing, then offered to send me a “selfie” photo showing off his hiking boots and woolen socks he donned during a snowy Denver day on Thursday.
Sure enough, the evidence was clear. However, by the time of the opening party later that night, de Gruiter and the sales staff at the new store at the corner of Detroit Street and East Third Avenue were indeed sockless. And the store sells socks, so go figure.
But the shop, which opened on Friday, centers its inventory on European-styled menswear with in-store tailoring on the spot. After opening more than 40 stores worldwide with notable U.S. sites in big-city cities of New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., Suitsupply opted to add Denver to its arsenal with a 7,000-square-foot space.
“I was looking at on-line sales last year and saw a lot of (brands) being shipped out to Denver, especially to the Cherry Creek area,” de Gruiter said. “I went to Denver two weeks later and was sitting in the bar at Second Home (inside the JW Marriott), and saw a guy wearing our suit. I told him, ‘I like your suit, where’d you get it?’ He said, ‘At this company called Suitsupply.’ He was raving as if he were a spokesman for the company.”
De Gruiter said he was further encouraged by the number of nice dressing Denver dudes he’s seen around town. “Also with the mix of international retailers opening their doors here, we’re here in the right time in Denver,” he said.
The average price for a Suitsupply suit is $469 to $569, de Gruiter said. The vertically integrated company buys directly from high-end mills in Italy, which cuts out the middle man wholesaler and pushes down prices.
The company was founded in Amsterdam by Fokke de Jong. “The men of Denver are just as hungry for impeccable fits, the finest fabrics and smart details,” de Jong said. “Guys in Denver know that whether they’re skiing, snowboarding or mountain biking, it’s essential to have the right gear. The same is true at the office or for a night on the town – and that’s where we come in.”
For more information, go to www.suitsupply.com.
Nishantha “Nish” de Gruiter, head of Suitsupply U.S., shoots a “selfie” inside the new Cherry Creek store to prove that sometimes he does wear socks. (Suitsupply Photo)
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