Rowing Blazers Founder Jack Carlson is stepping down from the brand a year after selling it to Burch Creative Capital, according to a press release Sunday.
Carlson founded Rowing Blazers in 2017, and after the deal with Burch Creative Capital, he worked as a creative advisor to the brand.
He hasn’t announced his next venture, but he is working on a book focused on the history and cultural significance of the rugby shirt, according to the release. He plans to pursue design projects in watches, cars and interiors.
Carlson oversaw several recent collaborations for Rowing Blazers, including with La Veste, the Explorers Club in New York and a “Paddington Bear” capsule collection, per the release.
“When I started the brand, people thought ‘preppy’ meant stuffy, static, elitist. Old, dead, white clothes basically,” Carlson said in the release. “I think we’ve shown it can be creative, inclusive, edgy, even fun. Selling last year meant that I could begin the process of stepping back and starting to explore new ventures and new creative outlets, and now I’m ready to begin that next chapter.”
Carlson’s co-founder David Rosenzweig stayed with the brand as director of strategy following the Burch Creative Capital acquisition. He is still with the brand, according to his LinkedIn.
Burch Creative Capital previously said the deal would allow it to develop a Rowing Blazers womenswear line and grow the brand’s retail footprint.
Burch Creative Capital’s other brand holdings include Tory Burch and Staud.
Also last year, Rowing Blazers named Laura Willensky CEO. Willensky succeeded Carlson in that role after working at J. Crew, Victoria’s Secret Beauty and Talbots.
