Austin Reed was a British

fashion Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion i ...

retailer Retail is the sale of goods and Service (economics), services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturing, manufacturers, dire ...

founded in 1900, and the brand was acquired by

Edinburgh Woollen Mill Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) is a Carlisle-based retailer specialising in clothing, along with interests in homewares and destination shopping for tourists. It was previously owned by the Dubai-based British billionaire Philip Day. The company ...

in 2016.

History

Austin Reed was founded by tailor Austin Leonard Reed (1873–1954).

Timeline

* 1900 - First London shop was opened in Fenchurch Street * 1911 - Opening of flagship store in Regent Street * 1929 - The first international outlet on the transatlantic liner RMS ''Aquitania'' * 1930 - The opening of the Regent St Barbers Shop * 1936 - Opening of a concession on the RMS ''Queen Mary'' * 1946 - Opening of a concession on the RMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' * 1940s - Winston Churchill was a customer here. * 1980s - The launch of Austin Reed's womenswear * 2000 - UK Manufacturing, at its Crewe factory ended * In 2005, Kosugi-Sangyo was the Austin Reed

ready-to-wear Ready-to-wear (or ''prêt-à-porter''; abbreviated RTW; "off-the-rack" or "off-the-peg" in casual use) is the term for ready-made garments, sold in finished condition in standardized sizes, as distinct from made-to-measure or bespoke clothing ...

license holder in Japan with retail value of €50 million. * 2009 - The Austin Reed Group acquires heritage brand Viyella * 2010 - The launch of the Q Club on the third floor of the Regent Street store * 2011 - Austin Reed move from the original 103-113 Regent Street Store to the opposite side (100 Regent Street) * 2016 - Austin Reed entered administration. Five concessions located in Boundary Mills outlet villages will stay open following a buyout by

Operations

Austin Reed also owned the CC brand (rebranded from Country Casuals).

References

Austin Reed is mentioned by Captain Peacock on the British situation comedy, ''

Are You Being Served ''Are You Being Served?'' is a British sitcom created and written by executive producer David Croft (Croft also directed some episodes) and Jeremy Lloyd, with contributions from Michael Knowles and John Chapman, for the BBC. Set in London ...

''. Cast member

John Inman Frederick John Inman (28 June 1935 – 8 March 2007) was an English actor and singer best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in '' Are You Being Served?'', a British sitcom between 1972 and 1985, and was the only actor from that series to featu ...

had worked at Austin Reed as a tie clerk in the early 1950s.

External links

Official website
* Clothing retailers of the United Kingdom Clothing brands of the United Kingdom British companies established in 1900 British Royal Warrant holders 1900 establishments in England Shops in London Suit makers Retail companies established in 1900 Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom {{UK-retail-company-stub