Living the American Dream

The Year 1946 Gave Birth to Many Classics: The bikini, named after a nuclear bomb testing site, goes on sale for the first time in Paris Dr. Spock published his book on childcare that shaped the Baby Boomer generation The films It's a Wonderful Life and The Best Years of Our Lives debuted ENIAC, the world's first automatic electronic digital computer was unveiled Bill Haley, Dean Martin, and B.B. King launched their music careers Annie Get Your Gun opened on Broadway

The Great Depression and World War II were years of sacrifice for Americans, but by 1946, it seemed like everyone wanted to make up for lost time. The post-war years were a time of unprecedented prosperity and optimism. A savvy entrepreneur, Nat Nast seized the opportunity to clothe the millions of Americans who took up bowling by launching The Nat Nast Company in Kansas City, Missouri in 1946. We are sure he could not have known to what degree he was creating an American art form and preserving a special moment in history.

A Style is Born
Nat Nast was a quintessential salesman who found a way to clothe those playing the popular sport of the day with style and function. Credited with designing the original "action back" shirt, a clever design featuring inverted pleats to allow greater comfort and arm movement, earned Nat the illustrious nickname, "The King of Bowling Shirts. Bowling the Perfect 300 game and wearing a Nat Nast shirt earned a select few a $1,000 savings bond, which were presented by Nat’s wife, Alice.

The company thrived for many years and was sold in the early 1970’s as the nation moved away from bowling as a favorite pastime.

Recapture an Era
Envisioning a lifestyle brand that emulated authenticity and the style their dad was known for, Nat's daughters Patty and Barbara relaunched Nat Nast Luxury Originals in 2000. They set out to create a brand that is not only shaped by the American experience—it celebrates it. Believing that every man has a story to tell, Nat Nast approaches each design with the idea that a man's clothes should reflect his confidence, his irreverence, his instincts and his style. The centerpiece of the collection is its signature line of limited edition embroidered shirts, each shirt telling an authentic story that pays tribute to the remarkable people, legendary places and notable events that have shaped American History.

Patty and Barbara

While a lot has changed over the years, the company's core values have not. Nat Nast's attention to detail, his emphasis on quality, and his appreciation for the finer things in life still live on today. It is our honor to keep Dad’s legacy alive with this timeless collection. It is a celebration of those moments that Recapture an Era.