Nasty Gal
| Nasty Gal | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Key people | Robert Ross, CFO[1] Sheree Waterson, CEO[2] |
| Products | Clothing, accessories |
| Revenue |  £98.8 million Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name |
| Owner | Debenhams Group |
Number of employees | approximately 200 (2014) |
| Parent | Debenhams |
| Website | NastyGal.com |
Nasty Gal is a U.S.-based fast-fashion brand targeting young female consumers. It serves customers across more than 60 countries.[3] Established in 2006 by Sophia Amoruso, the brand earned the title of "Fastest Growing Retailer" in 2012 from Inc. magazine.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Headquartered in Los Angeles, it was purchased for $40 million in 2017 by the UK’s BooHoo Group after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
History
The origin of Nasty Gal dates back to 2006 when Sophia Amoruso, then employed as a campus safety monitor at Academy of Art University, started selling vintage clothing on eBay from San Francisco. She named her store Nasty Gal Vintage, inspired by musician Betty Davis.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Amoruso sourced secondhand items for resale through this online platform.[4]
During its initial phase, communication with customers primarily occurred via MySpace.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name By June 2008, the business transitioned from eBay to an independent website.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In 2009, Nasty Gal expanded into its first warehouse located in Berkeley, California, later moving to a larger 7,500-square-foot facility in Emeryville, California.[3] Amoruso has highlighted social media's critical role in the company’s expansion.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Relocating its headquarters to Los Angeles in 2010 marked a new chapter for the company.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Early 2012 saw an injection of $9 million in funding, followed by a $40 million investment from venture capital firm Index Ventures in August of the same year.[5]
By 2012, the firm had grown to approximately 110 employees and established an additional distribution center in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Its revenue for 2011 reached $24 million, reflecting an extraordinary growth rate of 11,200% over three years.[4]
In November 2014, Nasty Gal launched its inaugural physical retail location on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name offering footwear, apparel, accessories, and intimate wear.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
On January 12, 2015, Amoruso announced that Sheree Waterson would succeed her as CEO.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Previously serving as president of Nasty Gal, Waterson partnered with Amoruso to broaden the company's retail footprint. Amoruso remained involved as founder and executive chairman.[6] Waterson also joined the board alongside Amoruso and Danny Rimer from Index Ventures.[6]
A second brick-and-mortar outlet was opened in Santa Monica, California in March 2015.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2016.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Subsequently, British retailer BooHoo Group acquired Nasty Gal in February 2017.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In November of that year, Nasty Gal debuted its first pop-up shop in the United Kingdom on London's Carnaby Street.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Controversies
In 2015, Nasty Gal was the subject of a lawsuit alleging the dismissal of four employees due to pregnancy, which was claimed to be a breach of California employment laws.
The company has also been the target of online criticism across multiple media outlets, highlighting an allegedly "toxic" workplace atmosphere. Numerous dissatisfied former employees have posted negative feedback on Glassdoor, reflecting widespread discontent with the work environment.
Original collections
Established in 2012, Nasty Gal’s original brand features exclusive, limited-run designs. That September, the brand introduced its inaugural Fall/Winter 2012 line, titled Weird Science, showcased at New York Fashion Week. Since then, Nasty Gal has consistently released new collections. In August 2013, it unveiled its first footwear range under the name Shoe Cult by Nasty Gal. The following year saw the launch of three additional proprietary lines: the vintage-inspired Denim Collection, a Swimwear line, and a Lingerie collection. Additionally, in 2014, Nasty Gal partnered with Minimale Animale to produce a collaborative swimwear collection. Later that year, in December, the brand joined forces with M∙A∙C Cosmetics to create a limited-edition capsule featuring lipsticks and nail polishes.
Expansion into publishing
In 2012, the company introduced the inaugural edition of a semiannual lifestyle publication called Super Nasty. This magazine showcased content related to fashion, music, and culture, and was distributed at no additional cost with customer purchases. Sophia Amoruso took on the role of editor-in-chief for this project. Photographers and contributors featured in the first issue included notable names such as Terry Richardson, Hugh Lippe, Jeff Hahn, Alexandra Richards, Syd tha Kyd, Langley Hemingway, and Lesley Arfin, a writer for Girls.
The publication’s second issue appeared in spring 2013, highlighting talents like Kesh, model Sidney Williams, Io Echo, Haley Wollens, Phoebe Collings-James, Charli XCX, and Akiko Matsuura.
In 2014, Amoruso authored the book #GIRLBOSS. Following its release, she established the GIRLBOSS Foundation aimed at empowering women to take control of their professional paths. This foundation provides quarterly grants to support women engaged in creative endeavors.
In April 2017, Netflix premiered Girlboss, a television series inspired loosely by Amoruso’s book. However, the show was discontinued after its first season.
References
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