Dressbarn
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (apparel) |
| Founded | February 1962 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States |
| Founder | Roslyn Jaffe |
| Fate | Physical stores closed in 2019; brand relaunched online by Retail Ecommerce Ventures |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Online retail, United States |
| Products | Women's casual dresses, leisure apparel, accessories, professional attire |
| Owner | Retail Ecommerce Ventures |
| Website | dressbarn |
Dressbarn operates as an online retailer focused on women's casual dresses, leisure apparel, accessories, and professional attire. Originally launched as Dress Barn in 1962, it maintained physical retail locations until the late 2010s. In 2020, the private equity group Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) purchased the brand and reintroduced it under the name dressbarn.
History
The inaugural Dress Barn outlet was established in February 1962 in Stamford, Connecticut by Roslyn Jaffe, catering primarily to working women amid a period of growing female employment.
In 1982, Dress Barn became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker DBRN. By January 2011, the business restructured as Ascena Retail Group, Inc., incorporated in Delaware and listed with NASDAQ symbol ASNA, reflecting a broader retail portfolio. At this stage, the brand name was simplified to dressbarn (all lowercase).
On May 21, 2019, Ascena revealed plans to shutter all Dressbarn physical stores and separate the brand. Shortly thereafter, Retail Ecommerce Ventures acquired Dressbarn to maintain its presence exclusively online. In March 2023, REV reported financial difficulties and enlisted restructuring consultants while considering various strategies, including a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.