Catherines - Fashion Company Profile
Catherines is an American plus-size women's clothing brand founded in 1960 in Memphis, built on a simple specialism: fashionable clothing sized for plus-size women, sold by staff who understood fit. It spent its store years inside Charming Shoppes and then Ascena Retail Group, alongside Lane Bryant. When Ascena entered bankruptcy in 2020, all of Catherines' roughly 300 stores closed and its online business was sold to City Chic Collective, the Australian plus-size group; Catherines has traded online only since, at the site linked above.
Company Snapshot
- Status
- Operating online only - the store chain closed in 2020 in parent Ascena's bankruptcy and the brand's e-commerce business was sold to Australia's City Chic Collective
- Type
- Private - a City Chic Collective brand
- Headquarters
- Founded in Memphis, Tennessee, United States; now run as an online brand by City Chic Collective
- Founded
- 1960, in Memphis, Tennessee
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Company Profile
The brand's surviving identity is its fit specialism - extended plus sizes across dresses, tops, intimates and swim - now sold through the website rather than the mall stores the profile below describes. That store-era record is kept in the profile section and on the history page.
The parent company's vision and mission are preserved because they are this brand's operating philosophy: the vision is to be the company known for celebrating the lives and fashion image of women wearing plus sizes, and the continuing mission is to serve the lifestyle apparel needs of women wearing plus sizes with the very best service, fashion selection, value and fit. The Catherines site itself is carried in the References below, and the companion Charming Shoppes profile in this letter carries the parent-level record, including the 2012 Ascena acquisition announcement.
Catherines 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- its history, past brand line-ups, figures and photographs from the periods described - is kept on a separate page for historical reference.
Catherines History & Historical Profile →Common Questions
When and where was Catherines founded?
In Memphis in 1960, with a single store owned by Catherine Weaver, whose goal was to bring style to the plus-size market; the chain was then called Catherines Stout Shoppes, in the historical record.
What sizes and customer does Catherines serve?
Sizes 0X-5X, targeting women age 45+, with classic and current plus size fashion and accessories for career and casual lifestyles, in more than 450 stores nationwide and at catherines.com.
When did Charming Shoppes acquire Catherines?
On January 7, 2000, Charming Shoppes, Inc. acquired Catherines Stores Corporation; in March 2002 Catherines became Charming's first online retailer.
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