COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 44815

Clothing Accessories Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

27companies1837–1990founding years27still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedHermès International S.A.
1837
1851
TechnologySinger's sewing machine mechanizes garment-making.
FoundedLVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA
1854
1873
EconomyLevi Strauss patents riveted denim work pants.
FoundedThe Athletics Investment Group
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedFoot Locker, Inc.
1905
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedR.H. Macy & Co., Inc.
1919
FoundedBarney's, Inc.
1923
FoundedEvans, Inc.
1929
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedCoach, Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedAdolfo Dominguez S.A.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedLe Chateau Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedFat Face Ltd.
1968
FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.FoundedGrupo Eroski
1969
FoundedJazz Basketball Investors, Inc.
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Finish Line, Inc.
1976
FoundedKiabi Europe
1978
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHot Topic, Inc.FoundedUnited Retail Group Inc.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Hermès International S.A. →
Active · founded 1837 · France
Known as 'one of the world's most elegant businesses,' Hermès International S.A.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA →
Active · founded 1854 · France
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, created through a $4 billion merger in 1987, is the world's leading luxury goods…
Vivarte SA →
Active · founded 1896 · France
Vivarte SA, formerly Groupe André, is Europe's leading retail footwear group and a major force in the continent's…
The Athletics Investment Group →
Active · founded 1901
The Athletics Investment Group owns the Oakland Athletics franchise, one of the most storied and controversial teams in…
Foot Locker, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Top athletic shoe retailer Foot Locker, Inc., was known until 1998 as the Woolworth Corporation and until 2001 as…
Lane Bryant, Inc. →
Active · founded 1914
Lane Bryant, Inc., is the largest plus-size retailer in the United States.
R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
R.H.
Barney's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Barney's, Inc.
Rallye SA →
Active · founded 1924 · France
Rallye SA is one of France's--and the world's--top retail groups.
Evans, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Evans, Inc.
Coach, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Late 1970s/Early 1980s:[fsps*7]Company begins a mail-order business and opens its first specialty stores.
Mervyn's California →
Active · founded 1949
Mervyn's California, owned by retail giant Target Corporation, operates 267 department stores in 14 states.
Adolfo Dominguez S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
Le Chateau Inc. →
Active · founded 1959 · Canada
Le Chateau Inc.
Lands' End, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
Lands' End, Inc.
Fat Face Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968 · United Kingdom
Company Persepctives: 1988 ...
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
French Connection Group plc →
Active · founded 1969 · United Kingdom
Company Perpectives: Whether it shocks you or amuses you, fcuk certainly makes you think.
Grupo Eroski →
Active · founded 1969 · Spain
Grupo Eroski is the distribution arm and the largest part of Spain's powerful cooperative group Mondragon Corporacion…
Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., owns the Utah Jazz, one of the most successful franchises in the National Basketball…
Cache Incorporated →
Active · founded 1975
Cache Incorporated is a publicly traded company that owns and operates a highly successful national chain of upscale…
The Finish Line, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
The Finish Line, Inc., is an athletic specialty retailer, carrying men's, women's, and children's brand name footwear,…
Kiabi Europe →
Active · founded 1978 · France
Kiabi Europe is a leading French clothing retailer, operating 110 stores in France as well as 12 stores in Spain and…
Chadwick's of Boston, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1983
Chadwick's of Boston, Ltd.
Hot Topic, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Hot Topic, Inc., a retail chain operating almost 200 stores in malls nationwide, occupies a unique space within the…
United Retail Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
With locations in 36 states, United Retail Group Inc.
David's Bridal, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
David's Bridal, Inc.
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