Monsoon Stores Ltd
Encyclopedia
Monsoon Accessorize is a design-led retailer based in London operating two international retail clothing chains - Monsoon and Accessorize.
Monsoon was founded in 1972 by Peter Simon following a period of selling shaggy woollen coats on the Portobello Road
and hand block printed clothes from Rajasthan
. The original focus was always clothes with an ethnic origin from faraway places, including unusual dresses from Afghanistan
and countries en route. In the early 21st century this type of clothing chimed well with the fashion for boho chic and helped Monsoon to prosper during the recession of the late noughties.
In May 1973, the first Monsoon shop opened in Beauchamp Place
, Knightsbridge
, London
. In 1984, Accessorize evolved as an exciting and a strongly differentiated High Street
concept for fashion accessories in an adjoining shop to the Monsoon, Covent Garden
Piazza branch.
In May 1999, 'Monsoon Home' launched its first shop in Kings Road
, London
. The range incorporates the Monsoon look and philosophy creating an innovative and individual home accessories range. In 2001, Monsoon Baby was launched as was Accessorize Angels. 2003 Monsoon Boy was launched with Monsoon Men following in the autumn of 2004.
Monsoon has expanded rapidly from its London
base. Today there are over 400 Monsoon and Accessorize stores throughout the UK. The International side now has over 900 outlets in 60+ countries, including Austria
, Brazil
, China
, Denmark
, France
, Greece
, Gibraltar
, Hong Kong
, Iceland
, Italy
, Lebanon
, Malta
, Israel
, The Netherlands
, Norway
, Portugal
, Russia
, Saudi Arabia
, Singapore
, South Africa
, South Korea
, Serbia
, Spain
, Sweden
, Taiwan
and UAE.
In June 2001 the business moved to the “Monsoon Building” in Paddington
bringing together the central functions for the first time in 8 years. The building, originally commissioned by British Rail
, was designed by Paul Hamilton
in 1969. Known as the “battleship”, it has been a familiar landmark to drivers on the Westway
. Abandoned and empty since 1990, it has now been brought back to life and won the 2002 Building of the Year Award.
The business has since moved to a new purpose-built eco-friendly office 'The Yellow Building' located in Notting Dale Village a stone's throw from where the company was first established by Peter Simon.
Piazza in 1984 and the second in Carnaby Street in 1986. 1992 saw the first Accessorize store outside London with a store opening in Manchester. In the same year the first airport store was opened at Gatwick South terminal. Building on the company's phenomenal success, a store opening programme began, averaging 16 new stores each year.
Today there are more than 240 Accessorize stores in the UK and a blossoming international operation of over 1000 stores (including some Monsoon/Accessorize dual stores). With its own in-house design team, Accessorize holds a unique position on the high street with its inspirational, globally sourced, well-priced and good quality collection of fashion accessories. Displayed in an original and impactful colour-bay design, the constantly changing range includes every kind of accessory imaginable; bags, purses, jewellery, belts, hats, scarves, flip flops, gloves, hair accessories and cosmetics.
Monsoon set up its first store in USA in Mar 2010 and they plan to run another 50 stores in China in the coming 3 years.
Foundation, following her involvement with the trust .
(ETI).
cotton in their new brands, according to Martin Hearson, a writer and fair labeling activist, the Monsoon Store chain's claim to this practice requires them to incorporate fair labelling practices throughout their entire chain of supply.
History
Portobello Road
Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London, England. It runs almost the length of Notting Hill from south to north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove. On Saturdays it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London's...
and hand block printed clothes from Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. The original focus was always clothes with an ethnic origin from faraway places, including unusual dresses from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and countries en route. In the early 21st century this type of clothing chimed well with the fashion for boho chic and helped Monsoon to prosper during the recession of the late noughties.
In May 1973, the first Monsoon shop opened in Beauchamp Place
Beauchamp Place
Beauchamp Place is a fashionable shopping street in the Knightsbridge district of London. It was known as Grove Place until 1885.Beauchamp Place was also a 16th century mansion of the Seymour family, whose titles included Viscount Beauchamp. It belonged to Edward Symour, Viscount Beauchamp who...
, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1984, Accessorize evolved as an exciting and a strongly differentiated High Street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
concept for fashion accessories in an adjoining shop to the Monsoon, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
Piazza branch.
In May 1999, 'Monsoon Home' launched its first shop in Kings Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The range incorporates the Monsoon look and philosophy creating an innovative and individual home accessories range. In 2001, Monsoon Baby was launched as was Accessorize Angels. 2003 Monsoon Boy was launched with Monsoon Men following in the autumn of 2004.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
base. Today there are over 400 Monsoon and Accessorize stores throughout the UK. The International side now has over 900 outlets in 60+ countries, including Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and UAE.
In June 2001 the business moved to the “Monsoon Building” in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
bringing together the central functions for the first time in 8 years. The building, originally commissioned by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, was designed by Paul Hamilton
Paul Hamilton
Paul Hamilton was the 3rd United States Secretary of the Navy, from 1809 to 1813.Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina, on October 16, 1762. He left school at the age of sixteen due to financial problems...
in 1969. Known as the “battleship”, it has been a familiar landmark to drivers on the Westway
Westway
Westway may refer to:* Westway , a highway in London* Westway a proposed but unbuilt highway* Westway , a BBC World Service soap opera* Westway , a British TV series made in 1976* Westway, Texas...
. Abandoned and empty since 1990, it has now been brought back to life and won the 2002 Building of the Year Award.
The business has since moved to a new purpose-built eco-friendly office 'The Yellow Building' located in Notting Dale Village a stone's throw from where the company was first established by Peter Simon.
Accessorize
The first Accessorize store opened in London's Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
Piazza in 1984 and the second in Carnaby Street in 1986. 1992 saw the first Accessorize store outside London with a store opening in Manchester. In the same year the first airport store was opened at Gatwick South terminal. Building on the company's phenomenal success, a store opening programme began, averaging 16 new stores each year.
Today there are more than 240 Accessorize stores in the UK and a blossoming international operation of over 1000 stores (including some Monsoon/Accessorize dual stores). With its own in-house design team, Accessorize holds a unique position on the high street with its inspirational, globally sourced, well-priced and good quality collection of fashion accessories. Displayed in an original and impactful colour-bay design, the constantly changing range includes every kind of accessory imaginable; bags, purses, jewellery, belts, hats, scarves, flip flops, gloves, hair accessories and cosmetics.
Monsoon set up its first store in USA in Mar 2010 and they plan to run another 50 stores in China in the coming 3 years.
Monsoon Accessorize Trust
The company has its own charity the Monsoon Accessorize Trust, founded in 1994, to mark the company's 21st birthday. The focus of the charity is the support of disadvantaged women and children in Asia . The charity is one of those supported by the Jodie KiddJodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd is an English television personality and fashion model.-Early life:Jodie was a showjumper as a child and attended St Michael's School, Petworth.-Family:Jodie is the granddaughter from Hon...
Foundation, following her involvement with the trust .
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
The company is a full member of the Ethical Trading InitiativeEthical Trading Initiative
The Ethical Trading Initiative is an alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations working in partnership to improve the working lives of people across the globe who make or grow consumer goods....
(ETI).
Fair Labelling
Although Monsoon use fair tradeFair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
cotton in their new brands, according to Martin Hearson, a writer and fair labeling activist, the Monsoon Store chain's claim to this practice requires them to incorporate fair labelling practices throughout their entire chain of supply.