Austin Reed - Fashion Company Profile
Austin Reed was a British clothing retailer founded in 1900 by tailor Austin Leonard Reed, known for ready-to-wear tailoring of near-bespoke quality and for its Regent Street flagship in London. The chain entered administration in April 2016 and all of its stores closed by the end of June 2016; Edinburgh Woollen Mill bought the Austin Reed brand, which has since traded only in limited online and concession form. This profile is therefore a historical one, and there is no shop box on this page.
Company Snapshot
- Status
- Closed in 2016 - the retailer entered administration in April 2016 and its stores closed that June; the brand and trademarks were bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill
- Type
- Was a private British menswear and womenswear retailer
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom (historical)
- Founded
- 1900
Company Profile
Austin Reed's century on the British high street - from the Fenchurch Street shop of 1900 through ocean-liner concessions to the Country Casuals and Viyella years - is recorded in full on the history page linked below. Anyone finding Austin Reed clothing for sale today is buying from the brand's current owner or from the second-hand market, not from the original retailer.
From a single shop to a multi-brand business: the Austin Reed Group began in 1920 with premium tailoring brand Austin Reed and international franchising. Since 2009, Viyella has been part of the Austin Reed Group, alongside Austin Reed and stylish womenswear label CC, who joined the group in 1998. Established in 1784, Viyella is a true British heritage brand - from creating the world's first branded fabric to designing sophisticated and timeless clothing for women and men. Founded in 1970, CC (formerly Country Casuals) has been making women feel confident and look stylish for over 40 years, with modern and flattering designs and expert style advice.
Austin Reed History
The earlier record for this company - its history, past brand line-ups, figures and photographs from the periods described - is kept on a separate page for historical reference.
Austin Reed History & Historical Profile →Common Questions
When was Austin Reed founded, and by whom?
In 1900, by Austin Leonard Reed; the first shop was on Fenchurch Street, London, with a Regent Street flagship from 1911, in the historical record.
What is Austin Reed known for, as recorded?
Being the first menswear retailer to craft ready-to-wear clothes with the same level of expertise as made-to-measure.
What happened to the brand in 2016?
The brand was acquired by Edinburgh Woollen Mill in 2016, in the historical record's opening record; the group also included CC (from 1998) and Viyella (from 2009).
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References & Further Reading
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