COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5699

Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Stores

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

30companies1783–1996founding years30still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.
1783
FoundedThe South African Breweries Limited
1895
FoundedBrooks Brothers Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
FoundedPhillips-Van Heusen Corporation
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedPetrie Stores Corporation
1932
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedFarah IncorporatedFoundedFarah Incorporated
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedTati SA
1948
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedLost Arrow Inc.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedG-III Apparel Group, Ltd.FoundedGIB Group
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedJordache Enterprises, Inc.FoundedJordache Enterprises, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedRentrak Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPluma, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedThe North Face, Inc.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedFootstar, Incorporated
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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…
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…
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
Brooks Brothers Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Brooks Brothers Inc., a subsidiary of the British firm Marks & Spencer PLC, operates a chain of clothing stores in the…
Brooks Brothers Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Brooks Brothers Inc., a subsidiary of the British firm Marks & Spencer PLC, operates a chain of clothing stores in the…
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) is a leading marketer of dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters, underwear and…
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) is a leading marketer of dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters, underwear and…
Petrie Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
Petrie Stores Corporation, a major retailer of women's apparel, operates stores under a variety of names, including…
Petrie Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
Petrie Stores Corporation, a major retailer of women's apparel, operates stores under a variety of names, including…
Farah Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
Farah Incorporated is a leading manufacturer and marketer of medium-priced men's and boys' apparel, with a particular…
Farah Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
Farah Incorporated is a leading manufacturer and marketer of medium-priced men's and boys' apparel, with a particular…
Tati SA →
Active · founded 1948 · France
A Parisian legend, Tati SA is on its way to becoming a worldwide name.
Tati SA →
Active · founded 1948 · France
A Parisian legend, Tati SA is on its way to becoming a worldwide name.
Lost Arrow Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Lost Arrow Inc.
Lost Arrow Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Lost Arrow Inc.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1974
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1974
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Jordache Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Jordache Enterprises, Inc.
Jordache Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Jordache Enterprises, Inc.
Rentrak Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Rentrak Corporation is the world's largest distributor of pre-recorded videocassettes on a pay-per-transaction basis.
Rentrak Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Rentrak Corporation is the world's largest distributor of pre-recorded videocassettes on a pay-per-transaction basis.
Pluma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Pluma, Inc.
Pluma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Pluma, Inc.
The North Face, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
The North Face, Inc.
The North Face, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
The North Face, Inc.
Footstar, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1996
Footstar, Incorporated is a holding company whose two subsidiaries, Footaction and Meldisco, are leading shoe retailers…
Footstar, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1996
Footstar, Incorporated is a holding company whose two subsidiaries, Footaction and Meldisco, are leading shoe retailers…
Build It Today

Starting a miscellaneous apparel and accessory stores company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.