Kellwood Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing manufacturing |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Maurice Perlstein, Fred W. Wenzel, Stanley M. Guthunz, Ovide de St. Aubin, Jr., Howard Michaelson, Jr. |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | David Falwell (CEO) |
| Products | Women's, Juniors', and Girls’ apparel brands including Parker, Devlin, Briggs NY, Democracy, Jax, Rewind, My Michelle, licensed lines |
| Owner | Hong Kong-based investor group (since 2016) |
Kellwood Apparel is a U.S.-based clothing manufacturer established in 1961, offering a range of Women’s, Juniors', and Girls’ apparel brands including Parker, Devlin, Briggs NY, Democracy, Jax, Rewind, My Michelle, along with various licensed lines. In 2008, Kellwood entered into a partnership with Sun Capital Partners, Inc., and was later purchased by an investor group from Hong Kong in 2016 for an undisclosed amount.
Establishment in 1961
The Kellwood Company originated from the consolidation of fifteen separate soft goods suppliers serving Sears, Roebuck and Co. Its name honors former Sears executives Charles H. Kellstadt and Robert E. Wood. The initial leadership team comprised Maurice Perlstein as president; Fred W. Wenzel, Stanley M. Guthunz, and Ovide de St. Aubin, Jr. as vice presidents; and Howard Michaelson, Jr. as secretary. Founding entities included Ahoskie Manufacturing Co., Albert of Arizona, Biltmore Manufacturing Co., Calhoun Garment Co., among others.
Expansion
During William John McKenna’s tenure as CEO from 1982 to 1996, Kellwood grew significantly through acquisitions such as Smart Shirts, Cape Cod-Cricket Lane, Parsons Place Apparel (Sag Harbor), Dotti, Sierra Designs, and launched the Kathie Lee Gifford clothing collection. Under McKenna’s guidance, Kellwood’s revenues surpassed the $1 billion mark.
In 2005, chairman Hal Upbin stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by then-president Robert Skinner; Upbin remained involved as an advisor on mergers, strategic initiatives, and operational matters. By 2008, Gerber Childrenswear licensed its products to Jockey International. Jill Granoff assumed the CEO role in 2012.
Founded in 1965 by Bob Swanson and George Rudolph in Berkeley, California, Sierra Designs pioneered outdoor apparel innovations such as the 60/40 Parka that combined cotton with nylon fabrics.
Acquisitions
Kellwood aligned with Sun Capital Partners, Inc. in February 2008. In January 2010, it acquired ISIS, a women’s performance outdoor apparel brand. The following year saw the addition of Rebecca Taylor—a contemporary sportswear label created by New Zealand-born designer Rebecca Taylor and Elizabeth Bugdaycay—to its portfolio. In July 2011, Kellwood further expanded by acquiring Zobha, a brand specializing in high-performance yoga and fitness apparel.
On November 22, 2013, Kellwood and Sun Capital Partners completed Vince’s initial public offering on the NYSE under ticker VNCE. In July 2014, Kellwood Holding purchased the Parker brand. Despite these developments, Vince experienced significant revenue declines and stock price drops by April 2017 that cast uncertainty over its future operations. Reports in October 2023 indicated Vince Holding was approaching a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
In 2016, a Hong Kong-based investor group formerly overseen by Sun Capital Partners acquired Kellwood. Following this transition, David Falwell was elevated from Executive Vice President to CEO as part of the company’s strategic leadership restructuring aimed at fostering growth.