Express (store)
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| Express, LLC | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio |
| Key people | Michael Weiss, CEO |
| Industry | Retail |
| Website | www.expressfashion.com |
EXPRESS is an American clothing company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Express clothing style and price point places the brand in competition with Guess?, Banana Republic, and Calvin Klein. as well as more expensive brands like Seven for all Mankind, Ralph Lauren, and Diesel S.p.A. As of August 2006, Express operates 700 stores in the United States, with annual net sales over $2 billion.
Through the 1990s, Express was predominantly a women's clothing company. Express is well-known for their Editor Pants for women, a line that has been expanded into multiple style variations. Express also known for its X2 line of jeans which come in six fits, three for women and three for men: Stella(w10 regular), Eva(w31 curvy), Zelda(w01 Skinny), Rocco(M11 Slim), Kingston(M22 Classic), and Blake(M42 Loose). As well as the premium denim line DPD for women and Denim Lab for men. In 2006 Express introduced the King of Prides collection for men. King of Prides originally was a line of premium denim but has since expanded to include a collection of ultra-premium t-shirts and hoodies starting at US$60 that compete with independent luxury t-shirt makers like Affliction Clothing, Aqua VI, and Monarchy. In spring 2008, Express released a limited women's collection designed by legendary textile designer Celia Birtwell. The line made its debut April 7th, 2008.
In 2001, the Structure brand (another Limited Brands division) was consolidated into the company as Express Men. Structure, a line of wear-to-work and casual wear clothing for men, began in Express stores. By 1993, the line had become so popular that Limited Brands instituted it as an independent division. However, due to sagging sales, Limited Brands brought Structure back under Express management in 2001, making Express a dual-gender brand. At the same time, Express began closing under-performing stores and consolidating others into existing Express stores. In 2003, after the closing or re-branding of all Structure stores, the Structure brand name was sold to Sears.
Express was well known for its store setup in the 1990s. For example, its store at New York's Roosevelt Field Mall was at one point very elegant with a changing 16-foot sign in the middle of the store, however, it has since been remodeled.
Express clothes are designed at the Express Design Studio on 111 Fifth Avenue New York, New York in Manhattan's Flatiron District.
On May 15, 2007, Limited Brands announced its intent to sell a 67% stake in Express to an affiliate of private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. When the deal was completed, Golden Gate's stake in the company was 75% instead of the announced 67%.
Former Express CEO Michael Weiss will return to Express to once again take the role of CEO. Express is no longer part of Limited Brands.
