Camp Beverly Hills
Template:Cleanup press release
| File:Camp Beverly Hills Logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Jeffrey A. Stein, John H. Lasker |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Fate | Ceased operations following distributor collapse |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Apparel |
| Website | campbeverlyhills |
Camp Beverly Hills was an American apparel brand established by Jeffrey A. Stein, John H. Lasker, and Howard Himelstein.[1] Originating in 1977, the label rose to prominence throughout the 1980s as a cultural icon. It gained recognition for its use of pastel hues paired with a relaxed, comfortable aesthetic. Following revival attempts in 2004 and 2020, the brand ultimately ceased operations around 2024 after its exclusive retailer Fred Segal shuttered.
In the late 2010s, Florida entrepreneur Jay Foreman acquired the brand. In 2020, Camp Beverly Hills vintage announced plans to relaunch the label.[2] The brand's products were distributed through pop-up events at Fred Segal locations and via their online platform until the retailer's closure.[3]
History
Leveraging the glamorous reputation of Beverly Hills, Camp Beverly Hills transformed its fashion offerings into lucrative business ventures.[4] The company was founded in 1977 as an affordable alternative to the upscale boutiques found in Beverly Hills. Its inaugural retail location was situated on a side street near Rodeo Drive, quickly becoming a sensation and attracting celebrity attention.[5]
Throughout the following decade, the brand gained popularity by pioneering casual wear featuring pastel colors. It expanded distribution into major retail outlets and broadened licensing agreements to encompass apparel, accessories, footwear, fragrances, eyewear, and home textiles.[6]
Brand Revivals
In 2004, Adina Levin and Raquel Krouse spearheaded a revival of the brand. This reintroduction focused on vintage-inspired casual wear and debuted at Scoop on the East Coast alongside Ron Herman on the West Coast. The buzz generated by this comeback quickly permeated the fashion industry, establishing the brand as a sought-after label in upscale department stores and boutiques nationwide. The relaunch resonated strongly with celebrities, loyal followers, and garnered widespread media attention. A memorable testament to this resurgence is found in question number 235 of the Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture 2 edition—signifying that Camp Beverly Hills had indeed returned to prominence!
Amid the resurgence of 1980s nostalgia during the 2020s, the brand announced another comeback in 2020, led by co-owner Jay Foreman. Foreman brings extensive experience in revitalizing nostalgic brands through his role as CEO of Basic Fun!, which has successfully relaunched iconic 80s properties like Care Bears and Tonka. The collection draws inspiration from its Los Angeles heritage and was planned for exclusive release at Fred Segal stores and fredsegal.com in Spring 2021. This limited capsule line, accompanied by a pop-up event, aimed to evoke the atmosphere of the original Camp Beverly Hills retail experience. Following this launch, the brand intended to pursue licensing agreements to expand distribution nationally starting in 2022 and beyond. Unfortunately, these ambitions were hindered when its exclusive distributor ceased operations in 2024.[7]
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedfounder - ↑ Camp Beverly Hills Archived 2011-08-21 at the Wayback Machine Sweden Unlimited, retrieved December 19, 2011
- ↑ "Briefly: Camp Beverly Hills, Gateway at Walmart, Ampol and Wagoneer". BrandlandUSA. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ Mitchell, John L (1988-09-16). To Raise Funds for School District: Beverly Hills High Lends Name as a Designer Label The LA Times, retrieved December 19, 2011
- ↑ Stevens, Karla Fashion from Episode 1: Camp Beverly Hills Thrills! The OC Insider, retrieved March 31, 2008
- ↑ "Global Icons Signs To Represent Camp Beverly Hills". Licensing International. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ "Fred Segal closes its remaining stores, ending a Los Angeles fashion era". LA Times. July 30, 2024.