Belstaff
 | |
| Industry | Clothing |
|---|---|
| Founded | Longton, Staffordshire, UK (1924) |
| Founder | Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | Labelux Group GmbH[1] |
| Website |
www |
Belstaff, a British brand, founded in Longton, Staffordshire in 1924. The company is now owned by JAB Luxury and based in London, England.
History
Founded in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and his son-in-law Harry Grosberg in Staffordshire, Belstaff produced all-weather jackets for motorcyclists. The company later created weather-protective jackets for other uses, goggles (primarily for the growing aviation market), gloves and several other garments intended to keep the wearer warm, dry and safe.
Belstaff became a subsidiary of James Halstead in 1948–a company also responsible in later years for the success of the Australian brand Driza-Bone.
In the 1980s, Belstaff diversified into the golf wear market.
The company was hit hard by the textile crisis of the 1990s precipitating the closure of the Longton Stoke-on-Trent factory after previously closing its Silverdale site. Moving to Wellingborough, production was vastly reduced. The range was also manufactured in Australia by a sister company Driza-Bone. The company grew again and in 1994 introduced Belfresh, a waterproof/breathable fabric. The company is now known for producing a full range of mens and womens outerwear in leather, waxed cotton, cashmere and other high end fabrics as well as a growing range of ready to wear and footwear.
In June 2011, Harry Slatkin along with The Labelux Group, acquired Belstaff.[2] Slatkin assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and, in July 2011, appointed Martin Cooper as Chief Creative Officer and together, they planned to transform the brand.[3]
In 2012 the company opened stores in Via della Spiga Milan, in New Bond Street London and on Madison Avenue, New York. The interiors were designed by Bill Sofield.[4]
In 2015, Belstaff produced a short film in partnership with Legs Media and, executively produced by Liv Tyler, called “OUTLAWS”. The film featured David Beckham in his first ever serious film role and co-starred Harvey Keitel, Katherine Waterston and Cathy Moriarty.[5]
In 2016, Belstaff produced a short film, starring Liv Tyler called ‘Falling Up’, where she retraces the footsteps of 1920s aviator Amelia Earhart, one of the first women Belstaff dressed. In her role as Brand Ambassador and Creative Contributor, Tyler also collaborated on a capsule collection baring her name for AW16.[6][7]
Notes
- ↑ Deeny, Godfrey (10 June 2011), "Labelex Buys Belstaff", Fashion Wire Daily (New York), retrieved 21 June 2011
- ↑ Skip to top of this page. "Brands > Belstaff". Labelux Group. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ↑ post a comment › (2012-02-19). "Belstaff Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Style.com: Runway Review". Style.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ↑ 24 febbraio 2012. "Belstaff: location, just prime ones - Moda 24". Moda24.ilsole24ore.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ↑ "Beckham makes lead role debut for Belstaff – but acting career isn’t on the cards". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
- ↑ "Falling Up: Liv Tyler stars in Belstaff film-Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
- ↑ Jones, Nina (2016-02-22). "Liv Tyler Previews Belstaff Collection". WWD. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
References
- Ian, Burrell (9 January 2010). "How did an old-fashioned British manufacturer of motorbike clobber become the label of choice for the Hollywood set?". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2010.