Early Beginnings, 1913 to 1980s

I.C. Isaacs was founded in 1913 by Isaac C. Isaacs and his family. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the company was established to cater to the local horse racing industry, focusing its manufacturing on riding britches, jodhpurs, and shirts. The merchandise was produced in two company-owned factories in Mississippi. By keeping design and production under tight control, I.C. Isaacs was able to maintain the highest standards of quality. The company remained family owned and operated, with a narrow focus on riding gear, for decades. I.C. Isaacs enjoyed steady success, with its reach limited to the close-knit racing community of Maryland and other parts of the South, until the early 1980s.

National Growth, 1980s and 1990s

In 1984 I.C. Isaacs was purchased by outside investors who were interested in utilizing the company's name and manufacturing plants to extend the business into the broader and more lucrative world of general men's and women's apparel. Soon after the buyout, I.C. Isaacs began producing inexpensive men's and women's sportswear under an eponymous label. The brand sold well locally, and was within a few years picked up by the national chain J.C. Penney.