Fashion Nova
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion retail |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Richard Saghian |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Primarily online, with five physical stores in the United States |
Key people | Richard Saghian (CEO) |
| Products | Fast fashion apparel, including clubwear, Curve Collection, menswear, beauty products (Maven Beauty) |
| Website | https://www.fashionnova.com |
Fashion Nova is a United States-based fast fashion retailer that primarily conducts business online, complemented by five physical stores. The brand extensively utilizes affiliate marketing, particularly on Instagram, where influencers, celebrities, and customers receive compensation or complimentary apparel in exchange for promoting its products.
History
Established in 2006 by CEO Richard Saghian, who started his career working at his father's clothing store in Los Angeles, Fashion Nova opened its inaugural location in Panorama City, Los Angeles, specializing in budget-friendly clubwear. The company expanded its reach by launching an online shopping platform in 2013.
In 2016, the brand introduced the Curve Collection to enhance size inclusivity. Two years afterward, it broadened its offerings by entering the menswear segment with the Fashion Nova Men's line.
In 2020, in response to California's proposed SB 1399 legislation, Fashion Nova revised its contractor policies to guarantee equitable wages and instituted independent audits for contractors. Additionally, the company established a dedicated hotline for employee grievances and enforced penalties for non-compliance. That same October, Fashion Nova diversified into beauty with the debut of Maven Beauty, providing affordable products priced under $20.
While founder Richard Saghian keeps a relatively low profile publicly, he is recognized for his investments in real estate, including properties previously owned by Avicii and Netflix executive Ted Sarandos.
Collaborations
In November 2018, Fashion Nova unveiled a collection in partnership with rapper Cardi B, launched at a prominent event featuring performances from Cardi B, Saweetie, DreamDoll, and Brianna Perry. The collection sold out within seconds, marking a major commercial achievement. Following this success, the brand gained endorsements from celebrities such as Teyana Taylor, Blac Chyna, and Christina Milian. The company also leverages seasonal trends with a Halloween costume line promoted by well-known ambassadors.
The collaboration with Cardi B continued into a second season in May 2019, accompanied by performances from Cardi B, YG, Blueface, and Lil Nas X, further enhancing the brand's presence in the market.
April 2020 saw the launch of Fashion Nova Cares, an initiative focused on supporting social causes. In partnership with Cardi B once again, the company contributed $1 million towards COVID-19 relief efforts. By June 2020, Fashion Nova committed an additional $1 million to social justice organizations such as Black Lives Matter and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund as part of its corporate social responsibility strategy.
In November 2020, Fashion Nova released a collection with Megan Thee Stallion featuring bold designs and denim tailored for taller individuals. This collection generated approximately $1.2 million in sales within the first 24 hours, demonstrating strong market demand and financial success.
In March 2021, Megan Thee Stallion joined forces with Fashion Nova Cares on the Women on Top philanthropic campaign aimed at empowering women through scholarships, grants, and daily donations of $25,000 during Women's History Month. Megan further expanded this collaboration by launching a swimwear line in June 2021, contributing to ongoing growth and product diversification for the brand.
Controversy
In December 2019, an investigation by the United States Department of Labor into Fashion Nova's supply chain revealed that some workers were compensated as low as $2.77 per hour, resulting in $3.8 million in unpaid wages owed to numerous employees.
In October 2020, Playboy initiated legal action against Fashion Nova Inc. in Los Angeles concerning trademark infringement related to its Bunny costume, highlighting the outfit's unique features including bunny ears, a tail, and a bowtie collar.
In January 2022, Fashion Nova reached a $4.2 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after being accused of manipulating product reviews by suppressing negative feedback on its website.