CNBC to air documentary on Mickey Drexler

New York -- J. Crew CEO Milliard “Mickey” Drexler is the subject of a CNBC documentary that will premier Thursday, May 24 at 10 p.m., ET, with a re-air at 1 a.m., ET.



Entitled “J Crew & The Man Who Dressed America,” the hour-long program follows Drexler at work and at home, from his house in the Hamptons to a tour of the J. Crew store in Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J., to fabric mills in Italy. It highlights the legendary retailer’s intense involvement in the company on everything from the big picture (opening stores overseas) to such small details as the type of buttons that should be on a men's shirt.



The show charts the upward trajectory of Drexer’s life and career, from his childhood in the Bronx (he grew up in a one-bedroom apartment) to his rise in retail, starting with Ann Taylor and moving on to Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and eventually Gap Inc.



As to Drexler’s success at J. Crew, the numbers tell the story: Since he took the helm as CEO in 2003, the company’s revenues have risen 170% to near $1.9 billion in 2011.