Fred Segal is an American clothing and accessories retail brand founded in 1961. In 2024 the brand announced it would close its physical retail stores.

Fred Segal
IndustryLifestyle, retail
Founded1961; 63 years ago (1961)
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Number of locations
9
Area served
United States
Sunset Boulevard, Malibu
Key people
Jeff Lotman (CEO & Owner)
Websitewww.fredsegal.com

Stores

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There were six Fred Segal locations in the United States as of 2023. The main store was located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, with others in Malibu,[1]Los Angeles, Larkspur and Las Vegas. Fred Segal has one international location at Galleria Department Store in Seoul, South Korea.

History

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Over five decades ago, Fred Segal opened a local jeans-only store, called Pants America. This 300-square-foot store grew over the years, and with the move to Melrose Avenue in 1961, the name was changed to Fred Segal. By buying up property after property, it grew into 29,000-square-foot, 102-parking-spot retail center.[2] Segal invited key managers to purchase and run select boutiques within their respective area of merchandising expertise within the Fred Segal center.

In May 2012, the worldwide brand licensing rights were acquired by Sandow Media;[3][4] however, that transaction did not include the two retail centers at 8100 Melrose Avenue, which the family had sold more than a decade earlier, and the Santa Monica center, which closed in 2016.[5] In late 2012, Sandow announced Fred Segal's expansion strategy to open new flagship locations, both internationally and domestically, launch Fred Segal's first e-commerce site, and create private merchandise lines.

Under Sandow’s ownership, a 2,000-square-foot Fred Segal store opened in the renovated Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in 2013.[6] In September 2017, Fred Segal opened their flagship store on the corner of Sunset and La Cienega in West Hollywood, California.[7]

In March 2019, Fred Segal was bought by Global Icons.[8] Evolution Media, an investment firm created by Creative Artists Agency and TPG Capital, will maintain a minority stake. The Segal family owns the Fred Segal trademark, with Global Icons licensing the trademark.[9]

Fred Segal opened its store in Malibu in April 2019.

On February 25, 2021, the founder of the eponymous brand died from complications from a stroke at age 87.[10]

In early 2024, a sublicense was issued for a 4,000-square-foot Fred Segal Home furniture and accessories showroom at the HD Buttercup Design Center in Culver City.[11] By July 2024, Fred Segal closed the last two of its five California stores – on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica; at The Shops at Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City; at the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur; Malibu; and the flagship on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood –, leaving only one retail outpost operating at Resorts World in Las Vegas.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Legendary L.A. Retailer Fred Segal Opens Malibu Outpost". The Hollywood Reporter. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  2. ^ Adam Tschorn (3 March 2021), Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A. Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ "Sandow Acquires Fred Segal". Informa Markets. April 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Lockwood, Lisa (May 3, 2012). "Fred Segal's New Deal". Women's Wear Daily.
  5. ^ Adam Tschorn (3 March 2021), Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A. Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Adam Tschorn (3 March 2021), Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A. Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ "Inside the New Fred Segal Flagship Opening in L.A. This Week". The Hollywood Reporter. September 26, 2017.
  8. ^ US, FashionNetwork com. "Fred Segal to boost worldwide presence following acquisition by Global Icons". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  9. ^ Caroline Petrow-Cohen (30 July 2024), Fred Segal closes its remaining stores, ending a Los Angeles fashion era Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ Tschorn, Adam (March 3, 2021). "Appreciation: How Fred Segal's retail vision forever changed L.A." Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Deborah Belgum (31 July 2024), Fred Segal Closes All California Stores Women's Wear Daily.
  12. ^ Deborah Belgum (31 July 2024), Fred Segal Closes All California Stores Women's Wear Daily.
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