The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UNDER ONE ROOF
R. Derwin Clothiers bringing men’s, women’s clothing together
LITCHFIELD » R. Derwin Clothiers, a mainstay business on West Street, will soon sell its men’s and women’s clothing under one roof.
The women’s store will be moved up the block to the space next to the men’s store at 43 West St., with a soft opening planned for Labor Day weekend.
The business has a history of changing to suit the needs and opportunities of the moment, store manager Jonathan Wilson said this week. Richard Derwin opened the store more than 25 years ago, Wil- son said, featuring both men’s and women’s fashions in the building that is now occupied by DiFranco’s restaurant. It moved along the Green soon thereafter, taking up residence at 33 West St. — the home of the women’s store.
The family adjusted over the years as the business grew, he said — the store expanded to the second floor of 33 West St., divided into men’s and women’s stores about a decade ago, then settled into its current configuration in recent years.
Wilson’s mother, Andrea Derwin, has seen that change take place first-hand. She began running the women’s store more than 20 years ago, she
said Tuesday, and is excited to move into the new space, which is significantly larger than the current location.
“It’s going to be light and bright and airy and fresh and new — and exciting. We’re very excited about it,” said Derwin.
Derwin’s is known for its traditional men’s and women’s clothing — custom-made shirts and trousers, socks and of course, a colorful palette of sweaters and jackets that change with the seasons.
“We have been changing the mix slowly to appeal to a younger element — a little more modern, a little more edge, but still maintaining our point of view, which is pretty much classic with a twist,” said Andrea Derwin. “But we’re twisting it a little bit more now, and keeping our sensibility and our high quality of merchandise.”
Wilson said the combined store will also improve the customer experience, allowing shoppers to more easily consider both
men’s and women’s offerings, create synergy in the store, and expand the visible presence of the women’s store in the downtown.
The move will also bring 43 West St. back to its historic origins, he said. The building was divided into a series of sections after a grocery store moved out nearly 20 years ago; those divisions are being eliminated.
“We’ve really worked to restore it back to its original glory,” said Wilson.
Andrea Derwin hopes to keep the store exciting for customers. “We’re not moving for any other reason than we want to reconnect the stores and recreate ourselves a little bit,” she said.
“Bring it back together again, like the sign says,” said Wilson.
Customer service has been and will remain a focus for the business, An-
“We have been changing the mix slowly to appeal to a younger element — a little more modern, a little more edge, but still maintaining our point of view, which is pretty much classic with a twist. But we’re twisting it a little bit more now, and keeping our sensibility and our high quality of merchandis.”
— Andrea Derwin
drea Derwin and Wilson said Tuesday — a chance to build relationships that last through the years, and provide a personal connection.
“We really pride ourselves on our customer service and maintaining (relationships) with the customers,” said Andrea Derwin.
“They really become like family, a lot of them — we’ve been here so long,” said Wil- son.
“I become friends with a lot of my customers,” Andrea Derwin said with a laugh.
More information about R. Derwin Clothiers is available on the business’ website — https://www.rderwinclothiers.com/ — and on its Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/rderwinclothiers.