Gantmacher was employed at a garment factory sewing shirt collars and met his future wife, Rebecca Rose, a button and buttonhole specialist who worked for the same company.

After Gantmacher's return from military service during World War I, the couple married and founded the Par-Ex Shirt Company with business partner Morris Shapiro.

[9] Shirts from Gant and rival Sero were de rigueur for high-school and college-age males who could afford their premium price during the decade.

[10][11] In 1979, Gant became a subsidiary of apparel manufacturer The Palm Beach Company and ceased operations in New Haven.

[15] In the spring of 2006, Gant became a public company and was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O-List;[16] it was delisted 20 March 2008[17] upon being acquired by the Swiss retail group Maus Frères.