Oroton
{{Short description|Australian fashion brand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Oroton
| logo = Oroton Logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| image = Oroton Store Brisbane.jpg
| image_caption = Oroton store in Brisbane
| type = Private
| traded_as = {{ASX|ORL}}
| foundation = 1938
| founder = Boyd Lane
| location = Sydney
| key_people = Sophie Holt Creative Director, Jennifer Child CEO, Will Vicars Owner
| industry = Retail
| products = Luxury goods
| homepage = [https://www.oroton.com oroton.com]
}}
Oroton is Australia's oldest luxury fashion company founded in 1938. The company's main product category is leather bags for women and men. The company sells other products such as eyewear, accessories and small leather goods, and launched its ready-to-wear apparel line in 2019.{{cite web |url=http://www.oroton.com/ |title=Home |website=oroton.com}} The company is based in Sydney and has close to 50 stores and concessions across Australia and Malaysia. Sophie Holt was appointed creative director in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/accessories/ushering-in-a-new-era-at-oroton-meet-the-woman-reinventing-the-australian-label/news-story/804df8314ac7c490da609b89be7d15c4/|title = Ushering in a new era at Oroton: Meet the woman reinventing the Australian label|date = 30 January 2019}} Oroton revolutionised fashion in Australia in the 1950s by replacing traditional materials used for evening bags with interwoven metallic mesh - a product invented in USA by Whiting and Davis, who invented the machine to do so.[https://whitinganddaviscollection.com › history] Oroton was known for its signature mesh evening bags, today selling high-end leather bags and accessories.{{cite web |url=http://www.oroton.com.au/ |title=Home |website=oroton.com.au}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}Many of the early Oroton metal mesh bags and accessories were made in West Germany. In Australia other companies such as Glomesh, Parklane and Sterling mesh using the metal mesh system created major competition with Oroton, with Oroton being the most known name Internationally.
History
Oroton started as a private company established by Boyd Lane under the name Boyd Lane & Co Pty Ltd and became a public company under the name Oroton International in 1987.{{Cite web|url=https://paris-miki.com.au/brands/oroton/|title=OROTON {{!}}|website=paris-miki.com.au|access-date=2020-01-19}}
In 2000, Oroton acquired the Morrissey fashion label.{{Cite web |last=McInerney |first=Sarah |date=2009-02-11 |title=Morrissey shuts up shops |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/morrissey-shuts-up-shops-20090619-cqwb.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} In November 2002, Oroton International purchased the Marcs brand, founded by Mark Keighery, for $22.2 million.{{Cite web |date=2002-11-30 |title=Oroton to pay $22m for Marcs |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/oroton-to-pay-22m-for-marcs-20021130-gdfw7u.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
In 2002, the company was renamed the OrotonGroup.
In November 2006, OrotonGroup sold its brands Marcs and Morrissey to M. Webster Holdings for $6.3 million.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2006 |title=Marcs and Morrissey set for overhaul |url=https://www.ragtrader.com.au/archive/marcs-and-morrissey-set-for-overhaul |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Ragtrader |language=en}}
In November 2017, Oroton announced it was entering into voluntary administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-30/handbag-retailer-oroton-declares-voluntary-administration/9212246|title=Luxury brand Oroton latest casualty of Aussie retail carnage|last=Hyam|first=Rebecca|date=2017-11-30|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-20}}
In April 2018, the brand saw a significant increase in sales after Meghan Markle wore an Oroton crossbody bag for an official royal appearance with Prince Harry at London's Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a19862128/meghan-markle-oroton-bag/|title=Meghan Markle May Have Just Saved This Brand From Going Bankrupt|last=Decker|first=Megan|date=2018-04-19|website=Harper's BAZAAR|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-20}}
In July 2018, the company was purchased by Will Vicars and re-instated as a private company,{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/orotongroup-administrators-back-will-vicars-30m-rescue-plan-20180321-h0xs38|title=OrotonGroup administrators back Will Vicars $25m rescue plan|date=2018-03-21|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19}} with David Kesby appointed as CEO.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.oroton.com.au}}
- https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/fashion/article/oroton-appoints-country-roads-sophie-holt-whats-next
{{commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oroton}}
Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
Category:Fashion accessory brands
Category:Retail companies established in 1938
Category:1938 establishments in Australia