Offit grew up in Baltimore, the son of a shirtmaker. The young Hillquit never progressed past that entry-level task as a shirtmaker. In 1983, Budd was acquired by the Webster Brothers, another British shirtmaker founded in 1847. Budd was founded in 1910 by Harold Budd as an exclusively bespoke shirtmaker. Louis worked in the garment industry as a shirtmaker and as a private tutor. Ruth became a shirtmaker and was also proficient as a carpenter. The Paris shirtmaker Charvet is credited with their introduction in 1904. When the company folded shortly thereafter, Izod was sold to the shirtmaker Van Heusen.