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'Forever 21' is a chain of clothing retailers throughout the United States and Canada offering inexpensive, trendy fashions and accessories for young women and men. The chain, originally known as Fashion 21, was founded in Los Angeles in 1984 by Korean-American Don Chang and his wife. The first store was located on Figueroa Street and was only 900 square feet. Fashion 21 became so successful that Chang and his wife were able to add a new store every six months. In 1989, the first Forever 21 store was placed in a mall and increased from its previous 900 to 5,000 square feet. Today, the company operates about 400 mainly mall-based stores in the U.S. and Canada under the names Forever 21, Forever XXI, and For Love 21. Heritage 1981 and Gadzooks are also a part of the Forever 21 chain. Most of the retailer's apparel is private label and made in Southern California.^[2]
Forever XXI stores are larger than classic Forever 21 shops and offer men's and women's fashions as well as lingerie, footwear, cosmetic items, and other accessories. The chain released a line for young males called twenty one mens in 2006.
Like Wal-Mart, Forever 21 has eschewed the traditional $x.99 pricing and instead set their prices in the form $x.80. As a result, its clothes are priced 2% lower than competitors. In addition, the website for Forever 21 has the option for online shopping. Customers can purchase additional items that may or may not be found in the actual stores. A new addition on this website has been a special section for Heritage 1981 - a part of the Forever 21 chain - that highlights their specific collection of clothing.
The store's trademark yellow shopping bags have the words printed on the bottom, a reflection of the owners' Christian faith.^[3]
On June 23, 2007, Forever 21 officially opened its second store in Canada after its store in Edmonton. Located in Toronto on Yonge Street, the space was previously occupied by Gap and is situated across the street from fellow cheap-and-chic store H&M.^[4]
In November 2001, factory workers producing clothing for the company called for a store boycott until working conditions and payroll improved. The lawsuit was dropped when Forever 21 paid the workers' back wages.^[5]
In 2004, under pressure from PETA, Forever 21 agreed to stop selling clothing made with animal fur.^[6]
Designer Diane von Fürstenberg has recently filed a lawsuit against Forever 21 for duplicating her dress designs. ^[7]
Singer and designer Gwen Stefani has filed a federal lawsuit against the fashion megachain, claiming the retailer illegally ripped off her Harajuku Lovers designs. ^[8]
Designer Anna Sui has also filed a lawsuit against Forever 21 alleging that Forever 21 sold and offered for sale numerous women's clothing items bearing a striking similarity to her products featured at the most recent New York Fashion Week shows.

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References

External links

References

http://news.justia.com/cases/366304/
1. Company Profile
2. Hoover's profile
3. New York Sun - Aug. 18, 2006 "Evangelism in Fashion"
4. The Star - Forever 21 set to open first Toronto store
5. CorpWatch - "Boycott Forever 21!"
6. PETA - "Take Charge: Forever 21 Drops Fur for Good!"
7. New York Post - "Designer Sues: 'Evil' Twin Von Furious At 'Copycat'
8. E! News - Gwen Hates on Harajuku's Lovers

External links

★ Official Website

★ Faster Fashion, Cheaper Chic - New York Times, May 10, 2007