Jones Apparel Group, Inc., (NYSE: JNY) a Fortune 500 company, is an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing, shoes and accessories. Although its headquarters are in Bristol, Pennsylvania, it maintains 4 offices in New York City. The company also markets directly to consumers through their chain of specialty retail and value-based stores. In addition, it markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation and footwear under the Dockers Women brand licensed from Levi Strauss & Co. In 2004 the company purchased luxury department store chain Barneys New York for $400 million, and sold it in September 2007 to Dubai-based investment firm Istithmar for $942.3 million.
History
In 1970, Sidney Kimmel founded and became President of the Jones Apparel Division of W.R. Grace & Co. Together with Grace accountant Gerard Rubin, Kimmel bought Grace's fashion division in 1975, incorporating it as Jones Apparel Group. Jones expanded quickly by bringing out new labels and licensing others, such as Christian Dior.
In the early 1980s, Jones Apparel offered the sweatsuit fashions of Norma Kamali, and in 1984 they acquired the license for the Gloria Vanderbilt line from Murjani.
In the early 1990s, Jones again took off. The company expanded with new lines, such as Rena Rowan and Jones & Co.
Brands
Jones Apparel Group's brands include:
Albert Nipon
Anne Klein
Bandolino
Easy Spirit
Energie
Enzo
Angiolini
Erika
Evan-Picone
Gloria Vanderbilt
Joan & David
Jones New York
Judith Jack
Kasper
l.e.i.
Le Suit
Mootsies
Tootsies
Napier
Nine West
Norton McNaughton
Sam & Libby
