S. Schwab Company
Encyclopedia
S. Schwab Company is an apparel design and marketing company specializing in high-end clothing for small infants and toddlers. The company is known for its "Little Me" branded clothing line sold in many large department stores such as Macy's
, Nordstrom
, and Lord & Taylor
in the early 1900s to New York. Schwab later started a clothing manufacturing business in the city of Cumberland, Maryland
selling imported shawls, sweaters and other garments that were further enhanced in Cumberland using hand embroidery technique famous in Alsace
, France. After World War II
, Schwab's father and uncle joined the business and the company invested in a full-fledged manufacturing operation in the city.
In 1984, the company transitioned away from local manufacturing toward product development, marketing, and branding.
In 1995, S. Schwab Company acquired a license to produce the Ralph Lauren
infants and toddlers clothing line.
In 1999, Ralph Lauren
awarded the entire children's wear license for boys' and girls' apparel to the S. Schwab Company for both the United States and many other countries around the world.
In 2004, Ralph Lauren bought the license back from S. Schwab Co. for approximately $230 million, plus approximately $20 million in "contingent and deferred payments".
On Oct 31, 2007, S.Schwab Company sold the assets of its Little Me children's wear wholesale business to Mamiye Brothers
, Inc. The sale includes the Little Me trademark and all assets related of the wholesale business. In addition, all 37 of the 'Little Me outlet and specialty stores' were liquidated by Great American Group.
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, and Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
History
S. Schwab Company was started by Sam Schwab who immigrated to the US from FranceFrance
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...
in the early 1900s to New York. Schwab later started a clothing manufacturing business in the city of Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
selling imported shawls, sweaters and other garments that were further enhanced in Cumberland using hand embroidery technique famous in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Schwab's father and uncle joined the business and the company invested in a full-fledged manufacturing operation in the city.
In 1984, the company transitioned away from local manufacturing toward product development, marketing, and branding.
In 1995, S. Schwab Company acquired a license to produce the Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
infants and toddlers clothing line.
In 1999, Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
awarded the entire children's wear license for boys' and girls' apparel to the S. Schwab Company for both the United States and many other countries around the world.
In 2004, Ralph Lauren bought the license back from S. Schwab Co. for approximately $230 million, plus approximately $20 million in "contingent and deferred payments".
On Oct 31, 2007, S.Schwab Company sold the assets of its Little Me children's wear wholesale business to Mamiye Brothers
Mamiye Brothers
Mamiye Brothers is family-owned and -operated company founded in 1946 in New York, New York. Mamiye Brother is a manufacturer founded in 1946 that produces branded children's and teen's apparel. Some of the clothing brands...
, Inc. The sale includes the Little Me trademark and all assets related of the wholesale business. In addition, all 37 of the 'Little Me outlet and specialty stores' were liquidated by Great American Group.