# Charlie Schaefer

> Charlie Schaefer is the founder, CEO and chief creative force behind Greyson Clothiers, the performance-lifestyle label he launched in 2015 after 13 years at Ralph Lauren. Raised outside Detroit, educated at Duke University and now based in New Orleans, Schaefer has built Greyson around an unusually personal mix of technical fabric, tailored sportswear, golf, storytelling and community. The brand debuted at the 2015 Masters on PGA Tour player Morgan Hoffmann, later expanded into stores and womenswear, and raised $20 million in Series A capital in 2025.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Greyson Clothiers
- **Organizations:** Greyson Clothiers, Ralph Lauren
- **From:** Birmingham, Michigan, United States
- **Education:** Duke University
- **Known for:** Built Greyson Clothiers from a 2015 Masters debut into a multi-category performance and lifestyle apparel business., Raised a $20 million Series A round for Greyson in 2025., Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Michigan and Northwest Ohio regional winner.

## Career timeline

- **c. 2002-2015** — Spent 13 years at Ralph Lauren and rose to senior vice president of design, with work that included golf apparel.
- **2015** — Founded Greyson Clothiers and debuted the brand at the Masters through PGA Tour player Morgan Hoffmann.
- **2016** — Expanded Greyson's early golf identity toward broader sport and lifestyle apparel while personally managing product and tournament deliveries.
- **2020** — Was designing from New Orleans and described travel to Peru, Asia and Europe for vendor and customer work.
- **2021** — Greyson expanded its downtown Detroit retail presence at 1500 Woodward Avenue.
- **2025** — Greyson completed a $20 million Series A round to support retail, direct-to-consumer, wholesale and womenswear growth.
- **2025** — Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year regional winner for Michigan and Northwest Ohio.
- **2026** — Discussed Greyson's origin and positioning on the In The Harbor podcast.
- **2026** — Announced a collaboration with Mossimo Giannulli and NNO.VATION LAB to develop footwear and accessories, with initial footwear planned for March 2027.

## Achievements

- Built Greyson Clothiers from a 2015 Masters debut into a multi-category performance and lifestyle apparel business.
- Raised a $20 million Series A round for Greyson in 2025.
- Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Michigan and Northwest Ohio regional winner.
- Expanded Greyson from men's golf apparel into womenswear, racquet, activewear, retail stores and planned footwear and accessories.
- Developed athlete and cultural relationships that include Morgan Hoffmann, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm and Justin Timberlake.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Greyson announced that Mossimo Giannulli and NNO.VATION LAB would help develop its footwear and accessories business; initial footwear is expected in March 2027.
- **2026-04** — Schaefer appeared on the In The Harbor podcast to discuss leaving Ralph Lauren, Greyson's positioning and the changing culture of golf.
- **2025-06** — Schaefer was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year regional winner for Michigan and Northwest Ohio.
- **2025-02** — Greyson completed a $20 million Series A round led by NewBound Ventures and Chris Koch, with participation from apparel executives, athletes and entertainers.

## Links

- Website: https://greysonclothiers.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-schaefer-36176b198
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/GreysonClothier
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greysonclothiers
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greysonclothiers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greysonclothiers/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greysonclothiers

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/charlie-schaefer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27