COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5611

Men and Boys Clothing & Accessory Stores

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

23companies1783–1992founding years23still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.
1783
FoundedMaruzen Co., Limited
1869
FoundedSpiegel, Inc.
1893
FoundedMarks and Spencer p.l.c.
1894
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedPhillips-Van Heusen Corporation
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRose's Stores, Inc.
1927
FoundedEdison Brothers Stores, Inc.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedLoehmann's Inc.
1930
FoundedBhs plc
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedJay Jacobs, Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedHarold's Stores, Inc.
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Limited, Inc.
1963
FoundedCharming Shoppes, Inc.
1969
FoundedCrystal Brands, Inc.FoundedS&K Famous Brands, Inc.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedLamonts Apparel, Inc.
1985
FoundedStorehouse PLC
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedK & G Men's Center, Inc.
1990
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
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

The North West Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
Maruzen Co., Limited →
Active · founded 1869 · Japan
With a ranking among AsiaWeek magazine's top 1000 companies of 1996, Maruzen Co., Limited is one of Japan's largest and…
Spiegel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
Spiegel, Inc.
Marks and Spencer p.l.c. →
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. →
Active · founded 1904
During the first half of the 20th century Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) is a leading marketer of dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters, underwear and…
Rose's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Rose's Stores, Inc., operates a chain of more than a hundred discount stores in a region extending from Delaware to…
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in apparel, footwear, and entertainment.
Loehmann's Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Loehmann's Inc.
Deb Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Deb Shops, Inc.
Bhs plc →
Active · founded 1933 · England
Known for more than 50 years as British Home Stores, Bhs plc ranks among the United Kingdom's largest department store…
Jay Jacobs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Jay Jacobs, Inc.
Harold's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Harold's Stores, Inc.
The Buckle, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Based in the north-central United States, The Buckle, Inc.
The Limited, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The Limited, Inc.
Charming Shoppes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Charming Shoppes, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in women's apparel.
Crystal Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Crystal Brands, Inc., manufactures and merchandises sportswear, costume jewelry, and accessories under some of the…
S&K Famous Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
S&K Famous Brands, Inc.
Designer Holdings Ltd. →
Active · founded 1984
Designer Holdings Ltd.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Storehouse PLC →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
With its British Home Stores (Bhs) and Mothercare chains, Storehouse PLC ranks among the United Kingdom's top ten…
K & G Men's Center, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
K & G Men's Center, Inc.
Today's Man, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992 · www.todaysman.com
Today's Man, Inc.
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