J Brand
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel, Denim |
| Founded | January 1, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Jeff Rudes |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Denim apparel |
| Owner | Fast Retailing (80% stake acquired in 2012) |
J Brand is a denim apparel brand originating from the United States, established in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California.
History
The inception of J Brand traces back to 2004 when it was co-founded by Jeff Rudes. The brand made its official debut the following year at the Ron Herman Melrose Denim Bar located in Los Angeles, California.
Initially, J Brand specialized exclusively in women's denim products. Among their early offerings, the 811 Skinny model gained considerable popularity. Another notable design was the Houlihan Cargo Pant, inspired by the M*A*S*H character Hot Lips Houlihan. Although it was first seen as a novelty, this style became highly successful. Frank Doroff, vice chairman of Bloomingdales department stores, identified it as one of their top-selling pants, with sales reaching into the thousands. Overall, J Brand achieved sales exceeding 300,000 pairs.
In a significant development in late 2012, Fast Retailing acquired an 80% ownership stake in J Brand for $290 million.
Collaborations
J Brand has partnered with a range of notable fashion designers, including Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, Henry Duarte, Erdem, Meadham Kirchhoff, Peter Pilotto, Richard Nicoll, and Proenza Schouler.
For their advertising campaigns in Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2013, the brand collaborated with creative director Karl Templer and photographer Craig McDean to develop their visual presentations.