Liz Claiborne

Liz Claiborne Inc. is a fashion company founded in 1976 in New York City that designs and markets a wide range of women's and men's apparel, accessories and fragrance products. In 2006, the company generated sales of nearly $5 billion .^[2] The company sells directly to customers throughout the world through 399 specialty retail formats, 625 concessions, 336 outlet and 13 e-commerce sites. The company's brands are available at more than 30,000 different retail locations throughout the world. As of 2006, Liz Claiborne employed more than 17,000 people worldwide and was ranked 440 in the Fortune 500 list.^[3]

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History

Founded in 1976 by Liz Claiborne, Art Ortenberg, Leonard Boxer and Jerome Chazen, it was an immediate success with sales of $2 million in 1976 and $23 million in 1978.^[4] Liz Claiborne Inc. went public in 1981 and had made the Fortune 500 in 1986 ten years after it was founded with retail sales of $1.2 billion.^[4] It was the first company founded by a woman to be listed in the Fortune 500.^[5] Founder Leonard Boxer retired in 1985, and in 1989, Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg also retired from active management. Jerry Chazen, the fourth original partner, became the company's Chairman in 1989 and held that role until 2006.

In 1999, Liz Claiborne, Inc. acquired 85% of Lucky Brand Jeans. In 2001, they would acquire Mexx and in 2003 they would buy another large fashion company, Juicy Couture.

On October 16, 2006, Liz Claiborne Inc. named William McComb, Chief Executive Officer.^[6] In February 2007, Liz Claiborne Inc. named Tim Gunn, formerly Chair of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design, Chief Creative Officer.

Claiborne died on Tuesday June 26, 2007 at the age of 78. She died after a several year struggle with cancer.

Brands

See .

With over 40 brands, flagships include Liz Claiborne, Mexx, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand Jeans.

Other brands include Axcess, Bora Bora, C & C California, City Unltd, Crazy Horse, Curve, Dana Buchman, Elisabeth, Ellen Tracy, Emma James, Enyce, First Issue, Intuitions, J.H. Collectibles, Kenzie, Kenziegirl, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Mac & Jac, Mambo, Marvella, Monet, Monet 2, Narciso Rodriguez, Prana, Realities, Sigrid Olsen, Soul, Spark, Stamp 10, Tapemeasure, Tint, Trifari, Villager, and Yzza.

See also

• Liz Claiborne (fashion designer)
• Mexx
• Juicy Couture
• Lucky Brand Jeans
• Dana Buchman

Notes