Lane Bryant History

← Back to the current Lane Bryant profile

The Company Description of Its Time

Lane Bryant files itself as the most widely recognised name in specialty plus-size fashion. Acquired by Charming Shoppes, Inc. in 2001, Lane Bryant had, in the filing's summary, nearly 900 full-line and outlet stores nationwide as well as an expansive online store at lanebryant.com, offering trend-forward, sophisticated and high-quality fashion in sizes 14-28. The parent in that period is described alongside it: Charming Shoppes, Inc. was a leading multi-brand specialty apparel retailer primarily focused on plus-size women's apparel, parent of three distinct store brands - Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines Plus Sizes. This profile discusses the company, its sizes and its stores in product terms, which is where the historical record itself puts its weight.

A Short History, 1900 to 2006, as Recorded

The brief history in the historical record begins with a founding claim: in 1900 Lena Bryant founded Lane Bryant in New York as the first women's apparel retailer in America devoted exclusively to plus sizes. The first Lane Bryant store opened on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1904, and Lane Bryant eventually grew to 222 stores nationwide, offering a wide selection of fashion apparel. In 1982 The Limited, Inc. acquired Lane Bryant, and during a period of rapid expansion the chain grew to 720 stores. The name itself carries the founding family's spelling - Lena Bryant's first name rendered as Lane - though the filing does not pause to explain it, and this rebuild does not invent an explanation.

The 1990s entries are about marketing rather than store counts: progressive new marketing and promotional efforts focused on the celebration and empowerment of women, a first-ever fall fashion show in New York City in 1997 with the winner chosen from a national Search for Real Women campaign, and fashion shows continuing through 2003. Then the ownership changes again, precisely dated: on August 16, 2001, Charming Shoppes acquired America's number-one women's plus-size specialty apparel provider, Lane Bryant, with 651 stores. In 2003 the existing lanebryant.com website began e-commerce activity; in 2004 Lane Bryant returned to New York, marking more than 100 years in business by opening a store at 7 West 34th Street in Manhattan; and in July 2006 the company launched Lane Bryant Outlet with a first outlet store at Franklin Mills in Philadelphia, opening 82 outlet stores during 2006.

← Back to the current Lane Bryant profile