Ben Sherman
Marquee Brands · United Kingdom
Ben Sherman is a British menswear brand founded in Brighton in 1963 by Arthur Benjamin Sugarman, who traded as Ben Sherman. Its button-down shirts became a uniform of the mod scene. Since 2015 the brand has been owned by Marquee Brands, which operates it through licensing partners.
| Founded | 1963, Brighton |
|---|---|
| Founder | Arthur Benjamin Sugarman |
| Owner | Marquee Brands (since 2015) |
| Previous owner | Oxford Industries (2004 to 2015) |
| Model | Licensing |
| Website | bensherman.com |
What is Ben Sherman?
Ben Sherman is a British menswear brand best known for its button-down shirts and its place in 1960s mod culture. Today it is part of Marquee Brands, a brand owner whose portfolio also includes BCBG, Laura Ashley, Roberto Cavalli and Roots.
History
The company was founded in 1963 in Brighton by Arthur Benjamin Sugarman, who used the name Ben Sherman and set up a shirt factory in the town. Its shirts were embraced by the mods in the 1960s and again by the mod revival and rude boy movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Sugarman sold the business in 1975. It later went through management buyouts backed by 3i in 1993 and 2000, before Oxford Industries of Atlanta bought it in 2004 for £80 million. In 2015 Oxford sold Ben Sherman to Marquee Brands, then controlled by Neuberger Berman, for £41 million, according to Wikipedia.
Products and positioning
Ben Sherman is a mid-market menswear label. Its range includes:
- Shirts, including the signature button-down styles
- Knitwear and sweaters
- Suits and outerwear
- Shoes and accessories
- A golf apparel collection, launched in March 2024
Business model and distribution
Under Marquee Brands, Ben Sherman follows a licensing model: the brand owner manages the trademark and marketing, while partners produce and distribute products in different markets and categories. Wikipedia reports that the UK business has been licensed to The Baird Group. Products are sold through retailers, department stores and online.
Why it matters
Ben Sherman shows how a British subculture brand can survive several changes of ownership by moving to an asset-light licensing structure. It also illustrates the growing role of brand management companies, which buy heritage names and monetise them through partners rather than running their own design and retail operations.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Ben Sherman?
Ben Sherman is owned by Marquee Brands, which bought it from Oxford Industries in 2015. Marquee operates the brand through licensing partners.
Where is Ben Sherman from?
Ben Sherman is a British brand founded in Brighton, England, in 1963. Its shirts became closely associated with the mod movement.