St. John (clothing)

St. John Knits International Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Fashion
Founded	1962 (1962) in Irvine, California, United States
Founder	Robert Gray, Marie Gray
Headquarters	Irvine , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Enrico Chiarparin (Creative Director), Robert Gray (Founder), Marie Gray (Founder)
Products	Women's knitwear, jackets, dresses, suits, sportswear
Number of employees	1300 (2010)
Parent	Fosun International (Lanvin Group)

St. John Knits International Inc., commonly referred to as St. John, is a prestigious American fashion label that specializes in women's knitwear. Established in 1962 by entrepreneurs Robert and Marie Gray, the brand is distinguished for its timeless wool and rayon yarn knits, jackets inspired by Chanel, and signature use of primary hues. It functions globally as part of Fosun International’s Lanvin Group division.

History

St. John was launched in 1962 in Irvine, California, by former model Marie St John alongside her husband Robert Gray. The brand initially gained traction with hand-knit skirts and tops that became popular among professional models. While Robert Gray oversaw marketing and sales efforts, Marie concentrated on design and manufacturing. The early product range included tailored dresses, suits, and sportswear.

In 1990, Escada purchased an 80% ownership interest for $45 million, facilitating the expansion of St. John's retail presence through boutique stores. The company went public in 1993, with the Grays maintaining a 20% share. Robert Gray held the roles of CEO and chairman; their daughter Kelly Gray took on the presidency in 1996 and advanced to CEO in 2002. Following a private equity buyout in 2005, the family exited but later returned as creative consultants amid declining sales.

The brand's ambassadors have featured prominent supermodels such as Kelly Gray, Gisele Bündchen (2005), Angelina Jolie (2005–2010), Karen Elson (2010), and Kate Winslet (starting 2011). Many campaigns were famously photographed by Mario Testino.

St. John's business model emphasized collaborations with established retailers like Jacobson's and Lord & Taylor, fostering a dedicated clientele attracted to Marie St John's refined yet distinctive aesthetic. The garments are recognizable by their knit-in hems and unique double-knit wool-rayon fabric developed at the company's inception. Additionally, the St. John Sport collection provides fashion-forward options aimed at expanding customer reach.

St. John today

Based in Irvine, California, St. John currently operates 27 company-owned boutiques across the United States and distributes its collections through specialty retailers in 29 countries worldwide. The company employs approximately 1,300 staff members and reported revenues of $325 million in 2010.

In 2013, Chinese conglomerate Fosun International acquired a 30% stake in St. John, achieving majority ownership by 2017. In 2022, as a component of the Lanvin Group, St. John became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange through a SPAC merger, strengthening its global market footprint.

Between 2019 and 2023, Zoe Turner served as creative director, bringing expertise from Christian Dior Couture, Alberta Ferretti, and Max Mara. She rejuvenated the brand by introducing younger, more daring silhouettes and elevating its presence on red carpets with celebrities such as Gigi Hadid, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Alicia Keys, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Following Turner’s exit, Enrico Chiarparin was named creative director in 2023. Having held previous positions at Calvin Klein, James Perse, and Miu Miu, he works closely with stylist Karla Welch to advance St. John’s creative direction and foster business development.