COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5632

Women's Accessory and Specialty Stores

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

28companies1904–1995founding years28still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedAbercrombie & Fitch Co.FoundedAbercrombie & Fitch Co.
1904
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedUnited Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc.
1922
FoundedRose's Stores, Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedLoehmann's Inc.FoundedLoehmann's Inc.
1930
FoundedDeb Shops, Inc.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.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedHarold's Stores, Inc.FoundedTati SAFoundedTati SA
1948
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Limited, Inc.
1963
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedThe Clothestime, Inc.
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedLiz Claiborne, Inc.FoundedLiz Claiborne, Inc.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedOne Price Clothing Stores, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedLamonts Apparel, Inc.
1985
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.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
FoundedIntimate Brands, Inc.
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.
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

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. →
Active · founded 1904
During the first half of the 20th century Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. →
Active · founded 1904
During the first half of the 20th century Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
At one time United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc.
United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
At one time United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc.
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…
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…
Loehmann's Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Loehmann's Inc.
Loehmann's Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Loehmann's Inc.
Deb Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Deb Shops, Inc.
Deb Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Deb Shops, Inc.
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…
Harold's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Harold's Stores, Inc.
Harold's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Harold's Stores, Inc.
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.
The Limited, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The Limited, Inc.
The Limited, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The Limited, Inc.
The Clothestime, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
The Clothestime, Inc.
The Clothestime, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
The Clothestime, Inc.
Liz Claiborne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Liz Claiborne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
One Price Clothing Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Headquartered in South Carolina, One Price Clothing Stores, Inc., is a retailer of women's and children's clothing and…
One Price Clothing Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Headquartered in South Carolina, One Price Clothing Stores, Inc., is a retailer of women's and children's clothing and…
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Intimate Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Intimate Brands, Inc.
Intimate Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Intimate Brands, Inc.
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