Esprit Holdings facts for kids
Logo since 2018
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| Public | |
| Traded as | SEHK: 330 |
| Industry | Retail, Fashion |
| Founded | 1968 in San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Headquarters | Bermuda (Seat); North Point, Hong Kong (HQ); Ratingen, Germany (Co-HQ); New York City, U.S. (Creative HQ) |
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Areas served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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William Pak (CEO) |
| Products | women's clothing, men's clothing, accessories, shoes, body wear, kids wear, glasses, fragrance |
| Revenue | 7,064M HK$ (2022) |
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Number of employees
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approximately 2,230 employees worldwide |
Esprit Holdings Limited is a well-known company that sells clothes and accessories around the world. It started in 1968 and has its main offices in Hong Kong and Germany. Esprit sells many different items. These include clothing, shoes, jewelry, and even things for your home.
Esprit has stores in over 30 countries. You can find them in Europe, Asia, and America. They have many partner stores in places like Southeast Asia and Latin America. In Europe, Esprit has many of its own stores and even more stores run by other businesses. They also have special pop-up stores in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Esprit
How Esprit Began
Esprit was started in 1968 by a couple named Susie and Doug Tompkins. They also helped create another famous brand, The North Face. At first, they sold their clothes right out of a VW bus. Their apartment in San Francisco was their first office.
In 1979, a graphic designer named John Casado joined Esprit. He was famous for designing the logo for the first Macintosh computer. John Casado created Esprit's unique stencil-style logo.
In 1985, Esprit launched a famous ad campaign called "Real People Campaign." A photographer named Oliviero Toscani took pictures for it. The ads featured real Esprit employees, architects, and designers. One of these designers was Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect. He designed Esprit's European office in Germany. He also helped decide how Esprit stores should look. Other famous designers like Antonio Citterio and Norman Foster also worked with Esprit.
Changes and Challenges
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Esprit grew very quickly. It became very successful in many countries outside the United States. However, after the 2008 financial crisis, Esprit faced some tough times. The company lost money and its share of the market. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Esprit closed all its stores in several Asian countries.
Esprit's Comeback Efforts
In September 2021, William Pak became a leader at Esprit. He was named the permanent CEO in March 2022. In April 2022, Esprit started selling in Asia again. They opened a new pop-up store in Seoul, South Korea. Another pop-up store opened in Hong Kong in the summer of 2022. By the end of 2022, Esprit started making a profit again after five years of losses.
In December 2022, Ana Andjelic became the Chief Brand Officer. She helps guide the company's creative and marketing teams. In 2023, Esprit opened a new store in Soho, New York City. This was part of their new creative plan. They also launched new ad campaigns with photographer Richard Phibbs.
However, Esprit has faced more challenges recently. In April 2024, the Esprit stores in Belgium had to close. This meant many people lost their jobs. The Swiss stores also closed in March 2024. In May 2024, Esprit's operations in Europe faced difficulties again. About 1,500 employees were affected. In October 2024, Esprit's operations in the United States also faced financial problems.
What Esprit Sells
Since 2023, Esprit has changed how it designs its products. They now focus on a few "signature" items that can be worn all year. These include parkas, soft suits, tracksuits, and jeans. They also offer chunky knit sweaters and button-down shirts.
Esprit sells many types of clothing. This includes everyday wear, sportswear, and special collections for men, women, and children. They also have swimwear and activewear. Besides clothes, Esprit sells accessories like bags, shoes, and underwear.
Esprit also has a line called Esprit Home. This includes furniture, carpets, and lighting for your house. They also sell home textiles and bathroom items. For younger kids, Esprit Kids World offers maternity clothes, toys, and nursery furniture.
More to Explore
- List of Hong Kong companies
