THERE’S A ZZ TOP SONG MOST OF US CAN SING along to, whose chorus reads, “every girl crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man.” The band might as well have been singing about the legacy of one of Charleston’s most sought-after retailers. There’s no one in the apparel industry as knowledgeable about how to achieve an elegant and elevated style than the Behars, the family behind the eponymous Ike Behar fine menswear shop in Downtown Charleston. For the past 14 years, Ike Behar has been shaping the style of fashion-forward men with custom-made shirting, sport coats, suits and more.
The story begins four generations earlier in Havana, Cuba, where Ike Behar’s father, Samuel, owned a well-respected tailor shop. Ike learned the trade from his father and began to specialize in making handmade custom shirts that complemented the luxury suits Samuel designed. After moving to New York City and working first as a tailor and then as a partner in the Ralph Lauren shirt division, Ike devoted his life to the craft of shirt making and launched his own brand in Miami in 1957. “My grandmother helped my grandfather find the courage to start his own label,” says fourth-generation partner Josh Behar.
Ike began sewing high-quality, private-label shirts in the United States at an affordable price point while others were outsourcing overseas. The stage was set for expansion, and his three sons—and later grandsons—joined him in the business and helped expand the brand into other finely crafted menswear product lines.
“We provide the custom features that ensure our products are of the highest quality, from working button holes, hand-finished shirts and pants tailored on-site, while using luxury fabrics such as Loro Piana wool,” Behar says. “My grandfather’s ethos continues: We don’t cut corners. Although the business has grown tremendously since its inception, our firm commitment to quality and attention to detail has persisted.”
Ike Behar’s innovative sewing techniques won him a loyal following. He developed a proprietary method of diamond-quilting shirt collars to provide a clean, crisp look that stands up over time. His bespoke full and half canvas sport coats and blazers feature a clean, tailored look. Details such as split yokes on the back of shirts are more comfortable and help them sit better on men’s shoulders. “Customers may not know exactly why an Ike Behar shirt or jacket looks so elegant, but it’s our family’s decades in the business and attention to every detail that make our custom clothing so unique and tailored to each individual.”
Since his early days as a tailor, Ike Behar worked to fulfill extremely high standards. The brand’s attention to detail is unsurpassed in the industry, from pattern-matched pockets and seams to perfectly fashioned collar points. Whether customers are shopping locally or nationally, they cannot find better quality or a more knowledgeable brand than Ike Behar.
The brand offers hundreds of luxury fabrics, with new fabrics arriving twice a year from domestic and European sources. “We have a wide range of patterns, materials and weights,” Behar says. Whatever customers choose when ordering their custom shirts, jackets and pants, Ike Behar’s customer-centric approach is front and center. “Our Charleston store manager, Kellie Brandner, like all of our employees, is an authority on fine menswear and very helpful in educating customers about clothing construction and providing styling tips,” Behar adds. “We operate a family business and extend that feeling to every employee and customer. It is this family atmosphere that has enabled the Ike Behar reputation to endure for half a century; everyone who works here shares the family’s energy, enthusiasm and commitment. We are passionate about providing elevated looks; it’s why we get out of bed in the morning. We offer a personalized experience for each customer; men should be getting something unique when they shop with us. If they are looking for original fabrics and looks that are different from everyone else in town, we are the store for them.”
From tailored suits and slim-fit tuxedos to custom and ready-to-wear business casual attire, including dress shirts, jackets and men’s accessories, Ike Behar delivers quality craftsmanship for every occasion, and the brand still makes shirts in the United States as it has done since 1957. “We are a source of value for men who want to get the most for their budget,” Behar says. “Our goal is to convey our enthusiasm for our products the best way we can through custom detailing and a friendly and educational experience in our stores.”
Since Ike Behar opened a store in Charleston in 2012, the partners have opened their doors to customers in two other locations in Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach, Florida. “We continue to grow our footprint and store network,” says Behar, who also is in charge of maximizing the company’s e-commerce capabilities so customers in all parts of the country can enjoy Ike Behar’s luxury clothing. The Charleston store, originally opened on King Street, is now in a larger location on Market Street inside The Charleston Place, so the retailer can provide even more products and options to its Lowcountry customers.
“Charleston is a town of discerning taste and fashion,” Behar says. “Ike Behar shirts and suits provide the craftsmanship, comfort and style that fashion-forward men seek. We build wardrobes one piece at a time while providing the ultimate in luxury hand-sewn menswear at reasonable prices. Others have tried to replicate our proprietary techniques, but our clothing stands alone and is made for longevity and timelessness. Ike Behar will continue to set the standard for quality craftsmanship and style for many more generations.” *
