LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--True Religion, an iconic American denim and sportswear brand, today announced the appointment of Jim Kushner as Executive Vice President, North America Wholesale Sales, effective May 22, 2023. Mr. Kushner’s brings more than twenty years of sales expertise to True Religion and has worked in senior leadership roles for brands including Calvin Klein, Guess, Perry Ellis and Original Penguin. He reports to Chief Executive Officer Michael Buckley.
True Religion expects to double its North American wholesale business over the next three years under Mr. Kushner’s leadership. Mr. Kushner joins True Religion from Perry Ellis International where he served as Executive Vice President, Sales for the Perry Ellis and Original Penguin brands. He managed sales for men’s sportswear across multiple lifestyle brands across all channels of distribution. While there, he navigated the businesses through the post-pandemic supply chain challenges to deliver $200 million in revenue in 2022. He worked closely with Planning, Merchandising, Design, and Marketing on product strategy while also growing the existing Perry Ellis business with retailers including Dillard’s, Hudson’s Bay, Marmaxx, and Nordstrom Rack.
“Jim’s impressive depth of experience with some of the biggest names in our industry made him the perfect executive to lead True Religion’s North America Wholesale,” Mr. Buckley said. “He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the denim and sportswear market where he has driven growth, increased profitability and market share, and worked across all channels of business.”
Mr. Kushner has worked for many of the top sportwear and denim brands in the apparel industry. Prior to joining Perry Ellis International, Mr. Kushner served as President at Zee Co. Apparel Corp’s Hawke & Co., an outdoor and active lifestyle brand. He had previously been with PVH’s Calvin Klein for 11 years in roles of increasing responsibility. He left Calvin Klein as Senior Vice President, Sales, for Calvin Klein’s Sportwear and Jeans businesses. He started his career at Guess Jeans, where he was Senior Account Executive, Men’s Jeans, from 2000 until 2007.
“True Religion is one of the most exciting brands in the industry today and I’m thrilled to become a part of its future growth and transformation,” said Mr. Kushner. “I look forward to working with Michael and the rest of the team to help continue True Religion incredible growth across its men’s, women’s and kids’ businesses.”
Mr. Kushner holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from New York’s Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science, Public Relations/Business from the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he graduated with honors.
About True Religion:
In 2002, True Religion emerged onto the Los Angeles denim scene by blowing up the construction of the classic five-pocket jean. With its five-needle thread at two-stitch-per-inch process, the True Religion Super T stitch was instantly recognized for style that was unlike any other denim brand in the world. True Religion speaks to the uniqueness found in all of us. The brand is worn by athletes, musicians, and artists globally to express their individual style. Delivering an exclusive assortment of iconic styles, True Religion Brand Jeans focuses on producing high quality premium denim and sportswear for men, women and kids.