Heritage American label, GANT, is quite the embodiment of the American Dream. Its founder, Bernard Gant, was originally from Ukraine, and came to America with little but a big dream in 1914, landed in Manhattan’s garment district and everything else follows suit like a true toughed-it-out-and-made-it story. The brand was founded in 1941 during the war, and it began by manufacturing shirts on a subcontractor basis. After the war as things slowly returned to normal, Gant started selling exquisitely made shirts to some of the leading labels in the industry such as Brooks Brothers and J. Press.

The label is decidedly American, and has remained so for the past six decades. Today, GANT has evolved into a label which fuses traditional American style with European flair, and its Spring/Summer 2011 collection speaks for itself. Preppy Americana gets a little creative without bordering into ostentation and stays wearable with the right balance of colors and artful mixing. Light blazers are cut to fit and the collection champions suit separates. Of course, classic preppy items such as seer sucker blazers, plaid and collegiate sweat shirts are indispensable in the collection. However, when things are cuffed and artfully mixed with bright splashes of color, and materials are carefully juxtaposed, the staple is no longer unexciting. A collection of timely classics for the man with spirit and a penchant for color, next season, the Gant man will be a playful one. Images via: DENIMANIAC