Joseph Haspel
New Orleans haberdasher and inventor of the seersucker suit
About Joseph Haspel
Lived 1883 – 1959 (aged 75–76). Joseph Haspel was an American haberdasher.
Joseph Haspel (February 18, 1884 – December 29, 1959) was an American haberdasher in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the inventor of the seersucker suit, first worn by Southern businessmen, followed by Ivy League students and Northern businessmen.
Early life Joseph Haspel was born circa 1883.
Career Haspel worked as a haberdasher in New Orleans. With his brother Harry, Haspel co-founded Haspel Brothers in 1909. By the 1920s, students at Ivy League institutions like Princeton University began wearing it.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Joseph Haspel?
New Orleans haberdasher and inventor of the seersucker suit
When was Joseph Haspel born?
Joseph Haspel was born in 1883 in New Orleans.
When did Joseph Haspel die?
Joseph Haspel died on 29 December 1959 in Louisiana, New Orleans.
What was Joseph Haspel's occupation?
Joseph Haspel was a haberdasher.
What nationality was Joseph Haspel?
Joseph Haspel was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joseph Haspel. https://biography.guide/joseph-haspel/
MLA: "Joseph Haspel." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joseph-haspel/.
Chicago: "Joseph Haspel." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joseph-haspel/.
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