John Varvatos (company)
{{Short description|American men's luxury lifestyle brand}}
{{Infobox company
| name = John Varvatos
| logo = File:John Varvatos logo.gif
| logo_size = 250px
| type = Private
| genre =
| foundation = 1999
| founder = John Varvatos
| location_city = New York City
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| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Fashion
| products =
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| homepage = [http://www.johnvarvatos.com/ johnvarvatos.com]
| footnotes =
}}
John Varvatos is an international American luxury men's lifestyle brand founded by John Varvatos, that designs, manufactures, and retails high-end fashion, using rock aesthetics as the foundation of the brand's designs.{{cite web|last=Finn|first=Robin|title=A Man of High Style and Punk Tastes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/nyregion/25lives.html?ref=johnvarvatos&_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=April 25, 2008}}{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Molly|title=Men's Designer John Varvatos|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062893,00.html|publisher=People|date=March 5, 2007}} The fashion collection is distributed in 10 freestanding John Varvatos boutiques across the US, as well as in high-end department stores throughout the world.{{cite web|last=Rooney|first=Jennifer|title=For A Song: Designer John Varvatos On How He Gets All Those Rock Stars In His Ads|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferrooney/2012/07/12/for-a-song-designer-john-varvatos-on-how-he-gets-all-those-rock-stars-in-his-ads/|work=Forbes|date=July 12, 2012}} The John Varvatos Headquarters are located in New York City.{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=22111003 | title=John Varvatos Enterprises Inc - Company Profile and News | website=Bloomberg News }}
History
File:Detroit December 2015 19 (John Varvatos).jpg]]
John Varvatos founded the company in late 1999. Varvatos had previously been the head of menswear design at Calvin Klein, as well as the head of menswear design for all Polo Ralph Lauren brands, and was responsible for the creation of the Polo Jeans Company.{{cite web |last=Tschorn |first=Adam |date=January 11, 2009 |title=John Varvatos hopes to go global with rock-flavored menswear line |url=http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-varvatos11-2009jan11,0,1973085.story |work=Los Angeles Times}} The debut clothing line was launched in 2000; a "black-less collection", in which Varvatos went against the popular fashion trends of the time.{{cite web|last=Bhola|first=Sachin|title=John Varvatos Interview|url=http://www.askmen.com/fashion/interview_500/530_john-varvatos-interview.html|publisher=Ask Men}}
The company’s first freestanding boutique, located in the SoHo neighborhood for New York City, opened in October 2000. Today, the brand has 10 independent retail locations across the United States.
In April 2008, Varvatos opened at 315 Bowery, formerly the rock ‘n’ roll landmark club CBGB. Here, Varvatos attempted to preserve the original allure of the landmark, displaying his clothes among vintage books, high-end stereo equipment and a preserved wall of the original club, including band flyers.{{cite web |last=Doonan |first=Simon |date=December 2007 |title=Breakout of the Year + Designer of the Year |url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/200711/breakout-designer-casey-affleck-john-varvatos |publisher=GQ}} The opening was celebrated with a benefit party for VH1's Save the Music.{{cite web |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=April 19, 2008 |title=This Ain't No Nightclub (at Least Not Anymore) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/arts/music/19varv.html |work=The New York Times}} Today, the location hosts free monthly concerts, with a variety of music acts.{{cite web |last=Berk |first=Brett |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Q&A: Designer John Varvatos on Rock 'n' Roll, Detroit-Area Bowling Alleys, and His New Collaboration with Chrysler |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/09/designer-john-varvatos-chrysler-detroit |publisher=Vanity Fair}}
In 2010 and 2011, Lyndon Lea's Lion Capital purchased a majority stake in the company in March 2012, with Varvatos remaining as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.{{cite web|last=Jacobo|first=Julia|title=Lion Capital Purchases Major Stake In John Varvatos Enterprises|url=http://www.hauteliving.com/2012/03/lion-capital-purchases-major-stake-in-john-varvatos-enterprises/262468/|publisher=Haute Living|date=March 14, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Covert|first=James|title=Lion takes a huge bite of Varvatos grunge-wear|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/lion_takes_huge_bite_of_varvatos_PtjUsMWSlCDE6IpNjVZgcP|publisher=New York Post|date=March 9, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Sylvia|title=MENSWEAR LABEL JOHN VARVATOS CHANGES OWNER, CHANGES COURSE|url=http://bizmology.hoovers.com/2012/03/12/menswear-label-john-varvatos-changes-owner-changes-course/|publisher=Hoovers|date=March 12, 2012}}
On May 6, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, it was reported the company was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing $140 million in debt.{{cite news|title=Rock-Star Outfitter John Varvatos's Firm Files for Bankruptcy|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/rock-star-outfitter-john-varvatos-s-firm-files-for-bankruptcy|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=6 May 2020 |access-date=18 May 2020}} In July 2020, the brand's private equity owner, Lion/Hendrix Cayman Ltd. received court approval to acquire the fashion brand, in exchange for forgiving $76 million of the company's debt.{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/lion-capital-affiliate-gets-ok-to-acquire-bankrupt-john-varvatos|title=Lion Capital Affiliate Gets OK to Acquire Bankrupt John Varvatos}}
Lines
=John Varvatos collection=
The main collection of the brand, John Varvatos, is high-end male clothing with rock 'n' roll influences. The line aims to create a masculine look, with a subtle edginess for the male demographic. The main collection was expanded over the years, and today includes jewelry, watches, eyewear, gloves, scarves, and other accessories.
In 2004 John Varvatos released his first male fragrance line under the main collection, and later expanded to include their first women's fragrance in 2008.{{cite web |title=John Varvatos |url=http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/johnvarvatos/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529111525/http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/johnvarvatos/ |archive-date=2012-05-29 |access-date=2013-01-07 |publisher=New York Magazine}}
=John Varvatos Star USA Luxe=
=Converse by John Varvatos=
In September 2001, John Varvatos partnered with the US shoe company Converse, to create "Converse by John Varvatos". In 2004, Varvatos designed the laceless Converse Chuck Taylor slip-on. The design was widely adopted and imitated by competitors.
By March 2006, "Converse by John Varvatos" premiered the first ready-to-wear clothing line in Converse's history. A vintage-inspired line was also designed for a younger demographic.
Other collaborations
In 2012, John Varvatos partnered with Chrysler, to design two special edition Chrysler 300C. Varvatos was recruited to create two editions, the "Limited Edition" and the "Luxury Edition", both of which feature the brand's design and name.{{cite web |last=Stoklosa |first=Alexander |date=September 2012 |title=2013 Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition / Luxury Edition |url=http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-chrysler-300c-john-varvatos-limited-edition-luxury-edition-photos-and-info-news |publisher=Car and Driver}} Later in 2012, Varvatos became the first fashion brand to partner with Patrón Spirits, for a limited edition bottle stopper.{{cite web|last=Kamm|first=Jennifer|title=Patrón Spirits Collaborates with Fashion Icon John Varvatos to Create Limited-Edition Bottle Stopper|url=http://www.hauteliving.com/2012/12/fashion-icon-john-varvatos-new-patron-bottle-stopper-event/328720/|publisher=Haute Living|date=December 7, 2012}}
Awards and distinctions
John Varvatos first received accolades from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2000, when he was honored with the Perry Ellis Newcomer's Award for Menswear. The following year, he won the 2001 CFDA's Designer of the Year award.{{cite web |title=Fashion Show Mentors- John Varvatos |url=http://www.nbc.com/fashion-star/about/bios/mentors/john-varvatos/ |publisher=NBC}}
In 2005, Varvatos received the CFDA's 2005 Menswear Designer of the Year award. He competed for the top honor along with Ralph Lauren and John Bartlett for his third CFDA win.
In 2007, GQ{{'}}s named Varvatos "Designer of the Year" in its 12th Annual "Men of the Year" issue.{{cite web|last=Foxley|first=David|title=GQ Crowns 'Men of the Year'!|date=29 November 2007|url=http://observer.com/2007/11/igqi-crowns-men-of-the-year/|publisher=New York Observer}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.johnvarvatos.com/ John Varvatos Official Website]
{{Lion Capital}}
Category:Clothing brands of the United States
Category:Fashion accessory brands
Category:Privately held companies based in New York City
Category:1999 establishments in New York City
Category:American companies established in 1999
Category:Clothing companies established in 1999
Category:Retail companies established in 1999
Category:Shoe companies of the United States
Category:2012 mergers and acquisitions
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020