Kit and Ace

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.
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