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Kit and Ace

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Kit and Ace
IndustryRetail
Founded2014
FounderShannon Wilson
J. J. Wilson
HeadquartersVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Number of locations
8 (2019)
OwnerGeorge Tsogas
Kit and Ace flagship location, Water Street, Gastown, Vancouver
Kit and Ace, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London. This location has since closed

Kit and Ace is a Canadian clothing brand.[1]

History

Kit and Ace was founded in 2014 by Shannon Wilson, former lead designer of Lululemon Athletica, and her stepson J. J. Wilson.[2]

The company was founded to sell machine-washable cashmere wool clothing and accessories.[3] The first store opened in July 2014 in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood.[4]

In 2015, the brand opened retail stores in the US, the UK and Australia.[5]

In September 2015, the company installed shop-in-shop cafes from Toronto-based Sorry Coffee Co. in its London and Toronto stores.[6][7]

In April 2017, Kit and Ace closed all its international stores, focusing on e-commerce and its eight Canadian shops.[8] Hold It All Inc., a Vancouver-based company, owned the brand until the end of August 2018.[9]

In 2018, CEO George Tsogas acquired it from the company's founders and changed the brand direction creating technical apparel for commuters.[10]

In November 2019, Kit and Ace opens its first West Vancouver location in The Village, Park Royal.[11]

Awards

In 2018, the Navigator pant was selected as part of the "Ultimate Travel Gear" of 2018 by enRoute Magazine.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Our Story | Kit and Ace | Kit and Ace". www.kitandace.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  2. ^ Korstrom, Glen (July 16, 2017). "Kit and Ace co-founder JJ Wilson spins out new business ventures". Business Vancouver. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  3. ^ Brogan, Jacob (2015-12-17). ""Technical Cashmere" Is a Hot Fashion Item. It's Not the Fancy Material You Think". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  4. ^ "How Kit and Ace plans to become the Lululemon of streetwear". www.canadianbusiness.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  5. ^ "Kit and Ace steps up international growth with Lululemon founder..." Reuters. 2015-03-05. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  6. ^ sprudge.com All Apologies: Toronto’s Sorry Coffee Company Inside Kit And Ace, ASHLEY TOMLINSON
  7. ^ LaRose, Lauren (3 September 2015). ""Canadian retailer Kit and Ace expands". The Star.
  8. ^ Clothing chain Kit and Ace closes stores outside Canada ANDREW WILLS AND MARINA STRAUSS, The Globe and Mail April 26, 2017
  9. ^ Kit and Ace lays off some head office staff, closes international stores The Canadian Press April 26, 2017
  10. ^ "Vancouver's Kit and Ace clothing brand has been sold to a new owner". Daily Hive Vancouver. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Park Royal | West Vancouver | Kit and Ace". www.kitandace.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  12. ^ Chabot, L. M. "The Ultimate Travel Gear of 2018". enroute.aircanada.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.