Kit and Ace
{{Short description|Canadian clothing brand}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Kit and Ace
| founded = 2014
| founder = Shannon Wilson
J. J. Wilson
| num_locations = 6
| num_locations_year = 2024
| owner = Joe Mimran
Frank Rocchetti
David Lui
| industry = Retail
| products = Technical apparel
| homepage = {{url|https://www.kitandace.com}}
| location_city = Vancouver, British Columbia
| location_country = Canada{{Cite web |title=Form 10-K – lululemon athletica inc. |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1397187/000139718722000014/lulu-20220130.htm |date=March 29, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}
}}
File:Gastown, Water St shop.jpg, Gastown, Vancouver]]
File:Kit and Ace, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden 02.jpg, Covent Garden, London. This location has since closed]]
Kit and Ace is a Canadian clothing brand{{Cite web|url=https://www.kitandace.com/us/en/content?cid=our-story|title=Our Story {{!}} Kit and Ace |website=www.kitandace.com|access-date=2019-02-13}} founded in 2014 by Shannon Wilson, former lead designer of Lululemon Athletica, and her stepson J. J. Wilson,{{cite news |last1=Korstrom |first1=Glen |title=Kit and Ace co-founder JJ Wilson spins out new business ventures |url=https://biv.com/article/2017/07/kit-and-ace-co-founder-jj-wilson-spins-out-new-bus |publisher=Business Vancouver |date=July 16, 2017|accessdate=November 2, 2018}} to sell machine-washable cashmere wool clothing and accessories.{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/business/2015/12/kit-and-ace-sells-clothes-made-of-technical-cashmere-uh-whats-technical-cashmere.html|title="Technical Cashmere" Is a Hot Fashion Item. It's Not the Fancy Material You Think.|last=Brogan|first=Jacob|date=2015-12-17|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}} It is currently owned by Unity Brands Inc.
History
The first store opened in July 2014 in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadianbusiness.com/innovation/kit-and-ace/|title=How Kit and Ace plans to become the Lululemon of streetwear|website=www.canadianbusiness.com|access-date=2019-02-13}}
In 2015, the brand opened retail stores in the US, the UK and Australia.{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-canada-kitandace-idUKKBN0M12DO20150305|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229064759/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-canada-kitandace-idUKKBN0M12DO20150305|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2015|title=Kit and Ace steps up international growth with Lululemon founder...|date=2015-03-05|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-02-13|language=en}}
In September 2015, the company installed shop-in-shop cafes from Toronto-based Sorry Coffee Co. in its London and Toronto stores.{{cite web |website=sprudge.com |url=http://sprudge.com/all-apologies-torontos-sorry-coffee-company-inside-kit-and-ace-111030.html |title=All Apologies: Toronto’s Sorry Coffee Company Inside Kit And Ace |first=Ashley |last=Tomlinson |date=February 28, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2015/09/03/canadian-retailer-kit-and-ace-expands.html|title="Canadian retailer Kit and Ace expands|last=LaRose|first=Lauren|date=3 September 2015|work=The Star}}
In April 2017, Kit and Ace closed all its international stores, focusing on e-commerce and its eight Canadian shops.{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/clothing-chain-kit-and-ace-closes-stores-outside-canada/article34819585/ |title=Clothing chain Kit and Ace closes stores outside Canada |first1=Andrew |last1=Wills |first2=Marina |last2=Strauss |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 26, 2017}} Hold It All Inc., a Vancouver-based company, owned the brand until the end of August 2018.[http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/kit-and-ace-lays-off-some-head-office-staff-closes-international-stores-1.3386162 Kit and Ace lays off some head office staff, closes international stores] The Canadian Press April 26, 2017
In 2018, CEO George Tsogas acquired it from the company's founders and changed the brand direction creating apparel that is Smart, Easy to Love, and Made to Last on a mission to Amplify Optimism in the world.{{Cite news|date=11 December 2020|title=Kit and Ace mails a dose of optimism to shoppers|work=Strategy News|url=https://strategyonline.ca/2020/12/11/kit-and-ace-mails-a-dose-of-optimism-to-shoppers/|access-date=11 December 2020}}
In 2018, the Navigator pant was selected as part of the "Ultimate Travel Gear" of 2018 by Air Canada's enRoute Magazine.{{Cite web|url=http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/the-ultimate-travel-gear-2018|title=The Ultimate Travel Gear of 2018|last=Chabot|first=L. M.|website=enroute.aircanada.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}}
In November 2019, Kit and Ace opens its first West Vancouver location in The Village, Park Royal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kitandace.com/us/en/shopdetails?StoreID=parkroyal|title=Park Royal {{!}} West Vancouver |website=www.kitandace.com|access-date=2019-10-24}}
In December 2020, Kit and Ace returns to Edmonton opening a new location on Whyte Ave.{{Cite web|title=7 pieces from Kit and Ace that will make for the coziest winter {{!}} Curated|url=https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/kit-and-ace-cozy-winter-apparel-edmonton-store|access-date=2021-02-18|website=dailyhive.com|language=en}}
In June 2022, Kit and Ace opened a new location on Queen Street in Toronto.{{Cite web|title=Queen Street West Kit and Ace {{!}} Curated|url=https://www.kitandace.com/ca/en/shopdetails?StoreID=2-toronto|access-date=2022-06-20|website=kitandace.com|language=en}}
In July 2023, Kit and Ace was acquired by Unity Brands Inc. under the ownership of veteran retail executives Joe Mimran, David Lui and Frank Rocchetti.{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2023 |title=Vancouver clothing retailer Kit and Ace bought by company co-owned by Joe Mimran |url=https://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/vancouver-clothing-retailer-kit-and-ace-bought-by-company-co-owned-by-joe-mimran |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Vancouver Sun}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.kitandace.com/ Official website]
Category:Clothing brands of Canada
Category:Clothing companies of Canada
Category:Retail companies established in 2014
Category:2014 establishments in British Columbia
Category:Companies based in Vancouver
{{Fashion-stub}}