Summary: In order to create their curve-hugging t-shirts,($30 to $60), the two took a Hanes T-shirt and cut it to fit in sexy manner.
The following summary is from a 2003 interview in Women's Wear Daily, one month after Juicy was bought by Liz Claiborne Inc. The article is also available on Highbeam.
From "Juicy's New Squeeze: Claiborne."(Interview). WWD; 4/17/2003;
Jones, Rose Apodaca
Summary:
Pam Skaist-Levy and Gela Taylor currently remain co-presidents while Claiborne's owns 100 percent of Juicy Couture. The buyout is allowing them to finance additional product lines, from flip-flops to fur parkas. (For in-depth information on buyout figures, you will need to access the article)
Store owners are also looking forward to a more timely flow of Juicy goods to fulfill the frenzied demand. Juicy products are currently sold in over 840 specialty stores in the US and 280 department stores. Eight-percent of the company's sales are in Europe, 5% in Canada and 2% in Japan.
The simple ability to fulfill the current demand for Juicy products has some speculating that the business will double in growth within a year. A steady supply of existing and new product lines has retailers anticipating the plus side of the buyout.
New product lines are expected to include cosmetics, fragrance, footwear, handbags as well as the first namesake Juicy boutique. All of this is expected to take a good portion of the production out of the United States - a difference in the original company vision of keeping all production within the country.
At the time of writing, the Juicy staff numbered 200. The two women have already begun to envision a home collection, including designer furniture.
Recounting the beginnings of the company, the pair tell how they met at a friend's shop in 1994, soon hooking up to launch Travis Jeans. In 1996, their t-shirt business took off under the brand,
Juicy Couture. Juicy Jeans followed in 1999, with a launch party headlined by Taylor's husband and his band, Duran Duran. The party attracted a celebrity A-list who have helped to boost the brand's image.
In 2001, the
Juicy Couture tracksuit became a hit with its form fitting cut and wonderful array of colors. A men's line of clothing, a baby business, and the new house party launch of Down Dog Couture Yoga apparel has added to the Juicy line.
Skaist-Levy and Taylor speculate that they will be able to keep up with the increased pace now that Liz Claiborne has taken over, but they don't want to see the Juicy line flood every department store in the country. They still want to retain their specialty niche. Moreover, they are avoiding the calling to produce their tracksuits in sizes for larger women, only recently adding a size 8, and contemplating a size 10 to quiet the retailers.
Nor do they want to enter the teen or tween market. They figure that young girls can wait until they grow up to be fit into or afford the Juicy label. However, they are already aware that many teens are already buying the clothing intended for their mothers.
To sum it up, Skaist-Levy and Gela Taylor are hoping that, with the aid of Liz Claiborne as their parent, they will be able to make Juicy into the next American brand.
A freely accessible article from "
Juicy Couture meets their match." PR Newswire; 3/20/2003 http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=99753
Some excerpts follow:
"Liz Claiborne Inc. purchase 100% of
Juicy Couture on the same day the US edition of Vogue Magazine declares 'Juicy Couture just may be The Future of Fashion."
"In 1996, with a pair of scissors, a bag of T-shirts and $200 between them,
Juicy Couture co-designers, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Taylor created the Juicy phenomenon. "We had originally intended to make sexy basics for our friends as presents" claims The Juicy's (as Vogue
Magazine's April 2003 issue refers to them), however they soon realised how contagious Juicy fever would become. "
Juicy Couture has completely revolutionised fashion," says Skaist -Levy. Not only did the world take notice of the tracksuits, but Liz Claiborne Inc. quickly recognised Juicy's appeal and the talented women behind the influential label."
"It's amazing because while we remain in 100% control of the vision of the company and the product, Juicy's design concept and quality will not change at all. It's the best feeling to have the financial freedom and the uninhibited creative control all at once - It will be 'Juicy Mania' like no one has seen before", states Skaist-Levy. "Liz Claiborne Inc.'s financial backing will allow us to go leaps and bounds over anything that we have ever done in the past. We are ecstatic", claims Taylor. "Finally with our new partnership we can add a great dimension to this Juicy world!"
"Having been introduced by mutual friends in 1994, P&G's first project was producing a line of maternity jeans called Travis Jeans, what would soon become Juicy Couture. Pam, previously a milliner, had a strong background in fashion, having studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; while Gela was an actress who had held numerous roles in films, on television and on the stage. Their common bond? "We could never find fashionable basics that were girly, flattering and sexy!", expressed P&G in unison. The Juicys launched their line of T-shirts that immediately flew out of every store that carried them. Based on this success, P&G applied their designs to revolutionising denim wear. Juicy expanded into the jean market with the launch of Juicy Jeans in 1999. For the actual launch, Duran Duran reunited for the evening and performed at an exclusive venue for a high profile guest list. This natural progression, led the duo to later introduce a line of cashmere sweaters and scarves inspired by the styles and trends of the 80's London punk rock scene and such icons as Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols. Building on this momentum, in Spring 2001, P&G created a new Juicy twist to affordable fashion by designing the Juicy Tracksuit. "Why can't women be comfortable while still feeling sexy and chic?" asks Taylor. "As I travelled across the country last year, speaking with women about fashion, the only thing united was an obsessive interest in Juicy velours -should the tracksuit go to a dinner party? The dog run? The school cafeteria? A date? The in-laws? A cocktail? (Answer: Yes to all of the above.)", asks Sally Singer, Fashion Features Director at Vogue Magazine."
"
Juicy Couture retail success has been reinforced by the immense celebrity appeal. "We have been very fortunate by our celebrity support. All of these celebrities really get it - while they are sent the best in fashion whether from Gucci, Versace, or Dior, they still choose Juicy!", claims Skaist-Levy.... For Spring/ Summer 2003, P&G launched
Juicy Couture largest and most
elaborate collection ever. With five new line extensions, Juicy has rounded out the collection, creating a 'Juicy lifestyle'. New introductions include:
Down Dog Couture Yoga, Menswear, Swim, Baby, Sleepwear and Accessories: While Juicy's national appeal is growing by the day, Juicy international recognition is mirroring that growth and in instances surpasses it. In October 2002, a Juicy promotion in Harvey Nichols in London broke a store sales record! That evening The Juicy's hosted a party at 'Home House' (where Madonna used to stay in London). Guests included: Matthew Williamson, Yasmin & Simon Le Bon, Jodie & Jemma Kidd, Kate Driver, Alison Loehman, Debbie Harry, John Taylor, and Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran. For their Milan launch, Juicy took out their first advertisement ever. The ad not only generated such a high level of interest, but drove their retailers to see additional record breaking sales in first day alone!
Read more....More about Pamela Skaist Pamela Skaist is not as complete a novice in the fashion industry as
you might think. She is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The following excerpt is from a "cached" web page. If you want to view the page, please paste the URL into your browser) "Throughout the apparel world, FIDM alumni are in top positions in their specialty fields. Notable graduates include fashion designers Pamela Skaist-Levy (owner of
Juicy Couture),.."
"Designs on the Future - FIDM Prepares Students for Cutting-Edge Careers." Downtown News.com From the Proquest Database - "Designer Friends Stumble Onto Success; [Home Edition] ROSE-MARIE TURK. Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext). Los Angeles, Calif.: Oct 9, 1987. pg. 20
Summary: The article highlights the start of Skaist's earlier career as a milliner while working her way through the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Skaist was prompted to make her own hats when an ailment caused temporary baldness. Unable to buy expensive hats, she was forced to buy cheaper versions and add her own trimmings. Urged by an instructor to make millinery her career, she started a business called "Helmet," designing one-of-a kind hats which she sold in a friend's boutique.
The hats took off from the start, with the first store ordering two dozen. Expecting only 5 hats per order, original orders were on the number of 15.
Skaist, who believes she was destined to be a designer, imagines her next venture to be a line of clothing called "Uniforms." (Little did she know what the future would hold :) "Juicy/couture. Style.com "
Juicy Couture Dives Into Swimwear." For Release.com
I hope these articles provide a bit more enlightenment into how the Juicy Label got off the ground. Don't forget, the connections these women have to the LA scene certainly did not hurt, I'm sure, when it came to finding buyers for their sample products, especially since much of the interest was generated in celebrity launches wihin a home setting or invitation-only party.
However it is still an interesting success story and these two women are to be admired, don't you think??? Search Stratey on Goolge, Highbeam, Proquest and Ebsco for the terms;
Juicy CoutureJuicy Clothing
Travis jeans
Pamela Skaist
Gela Taylor
Early beginnings of "
Juicy Couture"- details about getting it started I stumbled on this discussion page about the origins of Juicy Couture. I have to admit I'm a fan of the brand. I have no doubt the founders of
Juicy Couture had original ideas and worked hard to make their product successful. I won't knock them and I wouldn't dare belittle their success, but having a good idea come to fruition might possibly have been made infinitely easier by having a rock star husband. Gela Nash-Taylor is married to a member of Duran Duran, John Taylor. The financial backing and celebrity connections sure didn't hurt launching and continually promoting the brand. There is no harm in that. A lot of people with good ideas would love the kind of backing and launch pad. And the Tracy Ross mentioned in one entry is the daughter of Diana. With friends like these, how could you fail? And why should you.