Theory (clothing retailer)
Theory ( in lowercase letters, and in Japan asセオリー[ Seori ] known) is a company incorporated in New York City in 1997 fashion brand for women's and men 's clothing and accessories in the upper middle price segment, which as well as an international network of theory boutiques worldwide through the upscale retail is marketed in the U.S., Japan and China also have their own online store.
The original US-based Theory LLC was sold in 2003 to its Japanese licensee Link International, which was in turn bought out from 2004 by the Japanese retailer Fast Retailing, which owns theory since 2009 under the name of Link Theory Japan Co., Ltd.. with headquarters in Aoyama, Tokyo, is 100% and the among others, the low-price fashion brand Uniqlo and the designer brand Helmut Lang belong. The turnover of listed since 2005 Link Theory Japan Co., Ltd.. amounted to around 60 billion yen ( equivalent of nearly 700 million U.S. dollars) in fiscal 2012.
Company History
In 1997, the American Andrew Rosen founded ( b. 1957 ) with his Israeli-American business partner Elie Tahari ( born 1952 ), the women's fashion brand theory and the company Theory LLC in New York. Rose took over the management and thereby Tahari design. Rosen was until 1984 Director of the grandparents' textile company Puritan Fashions in New York City was, until 1989 Chairman of the Board at Calvin Klein ( buyers of Puritan ) and to 1995 COO of brand Anne Klein. With contemporary, simple, functional business wardrobe for women according to the motto "simple, basic, classic " (Eng.: simple, basic, classic), including particularly suit pants with stretch material, the company made in the upper Mittelpreissegement quickly made a name and stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's or Saks Fifth Avenue was conducted in the Department better. Back in 1999, a men's collection was added to the portfolio theory.
In 2000, the company entered into a license agreement with the one founded in 1998, Japanese retail company Link International, which could thus use the name of theory for the Japanese market. The retail group Fast Retailing had previously been involved with 47.1 % at the link below. Link came in 2003 with an offer to acquire 89 % stake in theory for $ 100 million, the roses and Tahari assumptions. Rose retained the remaining 11 % of the company shares, COO remained in the new company and received $ 49 million; Tahari has received $ 53 million and retired from the company. The original agreement against Tahari to resign after one year from the new company kept roses not an. The new company initially was named Theory Holdings, has been renamed to Link Theory Holdings ( LTH ) 2005. In the same year LTH went to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and bought the fashion label Helmut Lang pants and the German brand Rosner (2008 again repelled, since 2010 owned by Olsen ). With the latter, a distribution network for the brand theory in Europe should be built; Plände these, however, were discarded. Since 2009, LTH belongs completely to Fast Retailing. Rosen is CEO of Theory and Helmut Lang; both brands are associated with the Group's subsidiary LTH within the Fast Retailing.
The U.S. headquarters of theory has its headquarters in New York's Meatpacking District. The brand presents itself since the early days with the ambiguous slogan " In theory anything is possible. " (Engl.: "Theoretically, anything is possible. " Or " In theory [ clothing ], anything is possible. "). 2010, approximately 30% of theory - collection products in Manhattan were still made, the rest is produced overseas. 2012 went with the theory to the parent company belonging low price chain Uniqlo a collaboration called T- Down on down jackets for men, women and children.
2006 kindled a dispute between roses and Tahari, who saw himself in the sale of 2003 defraud, claimed compensation for the IPO took place from LTH and complained that roses have not left the company a year after the sale in 2003. Taharis action was dismissed by a New York court. Tahari operates since 1974 his own fashion label named Elie Tahari to 2006 was come of men's fashion.
The Belgian fashion designer Olivier Theyskens, a former Nina Ricci and Rochas designer, designed the invitation Rosen 2010-2013 an upscale women's line called Theysken 's theory for theory and was appointed Creative Director of the company with responsibility for all theory - 2011 collections.
The state in 2012, the company flagship store in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul entertained. In addition, there was theory boutiques in Athens, China, Hong Kong and the USA. In China, the U.S., the UK and Japan, the company operated also outlet shopping. The end of 2011 there were a total of 371 stores worldwide theory. In Germany there has been no theory - own stores, but stores that carry the collections, such as KaDeWe Berlin.
Collections
- Theysken 's theory - high-priced women's fashion line with accessories from Olivier Theyskens for Theory, since 2010
- Theory - women's fashion accessories in line with the upper middle price segment, since 1997
- Theory - menswear line with accessories in the upper middle price segment ( officially: theory MEN), since 1999
- Theory luxe - the Japanese market version of the reserved ladies Main Collection in larger sizes