of Theory, Inc., a New York City-based clothing retailer he co-founded in 1997, Rosen is a third-generation garment industry entrepreneur.
Rosen has been a key investor in a number of emerging American designers, including Alice + Olivia, J Brand, Rag & Bone, and Proenza Schouler.
[1] His grandfather Arthur Rosen, a Russian immigrant and a skilled garment cutter, founded the Puritan Dress Company in 1910 in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Rosen and Tahari's most important style innovation was the introduction of technically sophisticated stretch fabrics to a modern business silhouette.
[1] The Wall Street Journal writes that "Rosen bet that he could build a business on unfussy, well-made pants and shirts with no auteur behind them, and he won big.
"[2] By 2003, the company had annual sales of over $200 million (1),[1] and Rosen and Tahari sold the label to its Japanese licensee, Link Holdings.
The move was intended to keep Theory competitive with brands like Alexander Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim, who were making inroads in the 'contemporary' market with critically acclaimed designer collections.
Rosen sees new industry growth coming from luxury apparel manufacturing, a sector which has migrated from New York to cities like Paris and Milan.
Austin Rosen has worked at Theory and Rag & Bone, and founded the music management firm Electric Feel.