- Lucky Brand filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic problems and several years of slow sales.
- However, Lucky Brand was once a fashion destination for trendy denim and bohemian chic fashion in the early 1990s and early, loved by celebrities and shopping mall buyers alike.
- We take a look at the rise and fall of Lucky Brand, right after its long-awaited sale to the SPARC Group, the owner of brands like Nautica and Aeropostale, and the announcement that it will close 13 stores.
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Lucky Brand just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but in the early 1990s, the mall brand thrived as a destination destination for chic denim and the bohemian, chic look.
The Lucky brand, founded in 1990 in Los Angeles by Barry Perlman and Gene Montesano, was founded with the goal of selling “time-inspired, skinny jeans,” according to the company. The duo drew on a wide range of influences to create their unique denim look in a variety of washes and with rips, rips and hardware that set it apart from its competitors.
“Our jeans are made for the freethinker, the artist, the dreamer; they’re made for dancing, working, running, jumping, playing and rock ‘n’ roll (just like you),” says Lucky Brand on their website. . “Our inspiration comes not only from the tough workwear of the denim pioneers, but also from the free spirit and laid back lifestyle of our Southern California roots.”
Although the company took off during the first decade of the new millennium, it struggled to evolve its style to keep up with fickle consumer demand and struggled during the Great Recession. Changes in executive leadership also marred the brand as it fought an uphill battle to revitalize and resonate with shoppers amid the ongoing retail apocalypse.
Now, the brand is the latest to feel the strain of the coronavirus, and in turn announced that it will immediately close 13 stores as part of its bankruptcy filing. As the company prepares to finalize its expected sale to the SPARC Group, the owner of brands like Nautica and Aeropostale, we take a closer look at the rise and fall of beloved denim over the years.
