Club Monaco

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Club Monaco, Inc.
Type Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded Toronto, Ontario , 1985
Headquarters Starrett-Lehigh Building
New York, New York
Key people Founded by Joe Mimran, Alfred Sung
Products Apparel
Parent Ralph Lauren
Website www.clubmonaco.com

Club Monaco is a mid-priced, high-end casual clothing retailer[1] owned by Polo Ralph Lauren.[2] With more than 140 locations worldwide, the retailer has locations in Canada, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, China, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Turkey, United States, and United Kingdom.[3]

Each month, Club Monaco brings in a new collection, alternating between casual styles during the northern spring and summer and more formal offerings during autumn and winter. Originally, the company was best known for its classic "black and white" styles, from which different colours are paired with, but this is no longer a focus in each collection .[4]

Company history

In 1985, Canadian Joe Mimran and Alfred Sung opened the first store in Toronto on Queen Street West. This store, which still exists today, originally included a cafe below the sales floor. The first US store opened in Santa Monica in 1989. Until 1999, Club Monaco was a Canadian company and was based at Bloor Street West and Avenue Road in Toronto. It is now owned and operated by Polo Ralph Lauren, which acquired Club Monaco in 1999.[2] Polo has allowed Club Monaco to exist as an independent entity within the group and has downplayed its ownership of the brand.

Recently, Club Monaco has transitioned itself into an international lifestyle brand that offers "affordable luxury with modern sensibility". Each store has its own unique concept and design as well as a mix of different products. Third-party brands carried in stores include Ray-Ban sunglasses, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Mackage leather goods and can include a variety of vintage goods from high-end designers such as Chanel and Hermès. Club Monaco also contracts with outside designers to create an exclusive line of products such as jewelry designed by Erickson Beamon and handbags from Jane Mayle.

Club Monaco relies heavily on social media to market itself, using sites such as Pinterest and Tumblr to present its lookbooks or inspirations which can also be viewed on their website through their "Culture Club" page.

Luxottica began distributing Club Monaco prescription frames and sunglasses in its retail outlets in 2007.[5]

In August 2013, Club Monaco launched their first footwear line consisting of high-quality leather flats and heels made in Italy. In the same month, the brand also introduced a higher-end label simply titled 'Collection'.

The women's design team is currently headed by Caroline Belhumeur and the men's design team is currently headed by Aaron Levine.

References

  1. ↑ "Club Monaco on Facebook". Club Monaco. Retrieved July 26, 2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Polo/Ralph Lauren Corporation - Company History". FundingUniverse.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011. 
  3. ↑ Johnston, Robert (March 11, 2011). "Club Monaco Arrives in Britain". GQ Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Club Monaco". TheSommersetCollection.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011. 
  5. ↑ "Luxottica to Offer Club Monaco Eyewear". MediaPost Publications. October 25, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2011. 
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