• Updated on August 16, 2012 at 8:27 am
• Category Apparel & Department

The Top 100 Apparel Specialty Companies at a glance

Industry Sales

The apparel industry continues to be dominated by family and women’s apparel retailers. There are 61 family apparel retailers in the top 100, and 26 women’s apparel retailers. 

The Top 100 Apparel Specialty Companies ranked by industry sales generated $157 billion in revenue or 85% of the total industry.                            

Industry Stores

The Top 100 apparel specialty retailers operate 55,000 stores or 72% of all industry stores combined. 

Leading the charts is The Marmaxx Group, which continues to see large increases in sales and store count as the off-price retailer flourishes. Year over year sales figures increased 9%, and unit count increased 7%. Old Navy and Gap, two family concepts owned by Gap Inc., saw year over year decreases in sales, allowing Victoria’s Secret, a women’s retailer owned by Limited Brands Inc., to move up from 7 to 4 on the top rank of apparel specialty stores sales. Gap Inc. is a leading corporation operating Gap stores, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores. The most recent trade name added to the family was Athleta, the company’s women’s athletic apparel brand. Even with decreases in sales, Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic came in at 5, 6 and 18 respectively in the top rankings.

Much like the way fashion changes, the apparel industry sees constant change. Liz Claiborne Inc., after selling off its name brand, changed its company name to Fifth & Pacific Cos. The company now operates outlets for Lucky Brand, Juicy Couture and Kate Spade. The Talbots Inc. was acquired by a private equity firm and saw a decrease in store count and sales, as well as their positions in the top rankings. Ascena Retail Group announced it is acquiring Charming Shoppes Inc. Already operating dressbarn, Maurice’s and Tween Brands concepts, Ascena Retail Group will add plus-size concepts Lane Bryant and Catherines with the acquisition. It’s been said that all Fashion Bug stores will be closed. Ascena Retail Group will operate four headquarters and will continue to see change. The company’s Tween Brands already operating Justice just for Girls stores, has announced opening storefronts for its much newer Justice Brothers brand.

Natasha Perry

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