COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 448120

Women's Clothing Stores.

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

48companies1841–1999founding years48still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedC & A
1841
FoundedVivarte SA
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedFoot Locker, Inc.
1905
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.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedBrioni Roman Style S.p.A.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedAdolfo Dominguez S.A.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedKlaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedThe Wet Seal, Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedMonsoon plc
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedCandie's, Inc.FoundedKiabi EuropeFoundedLes Boutiques San Francisco, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedLa Senza Corporation
1982
FoundedDonna Karan International Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEileen Fisher Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedAnnTaylor Stores Corporation
1988
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedViewpoint International, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-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.
FoundedSean John Clothing, Inc.
1998
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

C & A →
Active · founded 1841 · Belgium
C & A is a paradox.
C & A →
Active · founded 1841 · Belgium
C & A is a paradox.
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…
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…
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…
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.
Lane Bryant, Inc. →
Active · founded 1914
Lane Bryant, Inc., is the largest plus-size retailer in the United States.
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · Italy
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A.
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · Italy
Brioni Roman Style S.p.A.
Adolfo Dominguez S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
Adolfo Dominguez S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1958 · Germany
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co.
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1958 · Germany
Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co.
Le Chateau Inc. →
Active · founded 1959 · Canada
Le Chateau Inc.
Le Chateau Inc. →
Active · founded 1959 · Canada
Le Chateau Inc.
The Wet Seal, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
A nationwide specialty retailer of moderately priced apparel for women, The Wet Seal, Inc.
The Wet Seal, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
A nationwide specialty retailer of moderately priced apparel for women, The Wet Seal, Inc.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
Monsoon plc →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Monsoon plc is a leading women's clothing and accessories retailer in the United Kingdom, operating three retail store…
Monsoon plc →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Monsoon plc is a leading women's clothing and accessories retailer in the United Kingdom, operating three retail store…
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc.
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc.
Candie's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Candie's, Inc., designs and markets a complete line of footwear, apparel, and accessories to young women.
Candie's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Candie's, Inc., designs and markets a complete line of footwear, apparel, and accessories to young women.
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…
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…
Les Boutiques San Francisco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978 · Canada
Les Boutiques San Francisco, Inc.
Les Boutiques San Francisco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978 · Canada
Les Boutiques San Francisco, Inc.
Guess, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Once known primarily for its denim jeans, Guess Inc.
Guess, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Once known primarily for its denim jeans, Guess Inc.
La Senza Corporation →
Active · founded 1982 · Canada
La Senza Corporation is a major Canadian retailer of women's lingerie and apparel, avoiding the sexy niche carved out…
La Senza Corporation →
Active · founded 1982 · Canada
La Senza Corporation is a major Canadian retailer of women's lingerie and apparel, avoiding the sexy niche carved out…
Donna Karan International Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Donna Karan International Inc.
Donna Karan International Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Donna Karan International Inc.
Eileen Fisher Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Eileen Fisher Inc.
Eileen Fisher Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Eileen Fisher Inc.
The J. Jill Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
The J.
The J. Jill Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
The J.
AnnTaylor Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, AnnTaylor Inc., AnnTaylor Stores Corporation is a retailer of women's apparel,…
AnnTaylor Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, AnnTaylor Inc., AnnTaylor Stores Corporation is a retailer of women's apparel,…
Viewpoint International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Viewpoint International, Inc., a subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc., is best known for the Tommy Bahama brand.
Viewpoint International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Viewpoint International, Inc., a subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc., is best known for the Tommy Bahama brand.
Sean John Clothing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
Owned by Sean "P.
Sean John Clothing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
Owned by Sean "P.
Too, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Too, Inc.
Too, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Too, Inc.
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