David Donahue started in the summer of 1972 in the heart of New York City’s fashion district. The name was a blend of the two partners — the first name of one, David, and the last name of the other, Donahue (the actual family name was spelled Donohue). The first partner retired early on and Mr. Donohue became the driving force behind the company.
From day one, he was driven by principles: Wake up every morning with a fire to do right by your customers. Work tirelessly to exceed expectations. And when you say you’ll do something, get it done and get it done right. The company has grown and evolved remarkably, but those values have never, ever wavered.
On the day the business opened, a sign painter asked the partners what they wanted on the front door. They hadn’t thought that far ahead. So Mr. Donohue quickly signed “David Donahue” on a piece of paper and handed it to the sign painter. He painted it on the door, and the signature remains the brand’s iconic mark to this day.
Mr. Donohue’s son, Rob, learned the menswear business from the ground up. He began as a swatch boy, quickly moved into sales, and finally hit the road as a multi-line menswear salesman. As he drove from state to state, he learned that the hands-on, eye-to-eye way of doing business is the only way. He also gained a profound understanding of his customers’ needs and is relentless about satisfying them. Rob has been known to carry bolts of fabric on his shoulder across town to keep a promise.
Shortly after taking the helm of the company, he persuaded David Donahue’s retail partners to carry the brand on its own merit instead of as a store label. Almost overnight, the company grew into one of the most successful accessory brands in the business.
