Three Dallas-based entrepreneurs are saving the world from tacky collegiate accessories, and sports fans everywhere are thanking them. Their company, Jack Mason, produces quality accessories, such as watches, wallets and belts, for the most popular schools in America.
Founders Michael Reese (University of Tennessee), Craig Carter (University of Louisiana at Monroe) and Mark Giambrone (University of Indiana business school) saw a void in the market and launched Jack Mason with a focus on hand-selected materials, original designs, presentation and customer service. Reese and Carter had spent years working at a Dallas-based accessories company, so that experience came in handy when deciding what would work.
Jack Mason is launching a women’s collection in the fall, including leather totes, cross-body bags, wristlets and wallets.
After a successful meeting with the College Licensing Company, the brand officially launched a collection at the Campus Market Expo in Atlanta in March 2014. The current line focuses on watches, wallets, belts, shave kits and messenger bags for 33 schools, with 20 more coming in August. The accessories look and feel like luxury goods yet maintain an approachable price point: Wallets start at $40, and watches are priced at $85 and up.
If your school dominates in college sports or has a large fan base, chances are Jack Mason has the goods for it. Original schools include favorites like the University of Texas, Texas Christian University, University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M University. New schools being introduced late summer include the University of North Carolina, Stanford University and University of Kansas.
In a grass-roots marketing effort, during the last year the team traveled around to various college tailgates — from SMU to the University of Tennessee — in a renovated Airstream-turned-mobile store. The team partnered with Dallas fabrication company 44 build, who understood the guys’ desire for a vintage feel. The Airstream boasts reclaimed wood floors from a Dallas high school, antique jewelry displays and a chesterfield sofa built right in for tradeshow meetings.
For fall 2015, Jack Mason is introducing a lifestyle collection of watches, wallets and belts, which launches in New York at the Liberty Fairs fashion show July 20-22. This sophisticated collection breaks away from the collegiate theme to focus on everyday accessories.
All the women reading this will be happy to know they have not been left out.
“Jack Mason is launching a women’s handbag collection in the fall that will include leather tote bags and cross-body silhouettes,” Reese says. “The handbag collection will be complemented with a collection of wristlets and wallets.”
You can buy Jack Mason products online and in more than 200 specialty retail shops. Nordstrom and Belk also carry the brand online.
As far as the tailgate tour, you can find the owners cruising to a college near you come September.
The Airstream serves as a shop on wheels.
