Austin Reed
Austin Reed is a British menswear and tailoring brand that began trading in 1900 as a tailoring business in the City of London. It is known for suits, jackets and formalwear and also offers womenswear.
| Founded | 1900, City of London |
|---|---|
| First store | Fenchurch Street |
| Administration | 2016 |
| Core category | Men's tailoring |
| Website | austinreed.co.uk |
What is Austin Reed?
Austin Reed is a British clothing brand that started in 1900 as a tailoring business in the City of London, with its first store on Fenchurch Street. Over the twentieth century it became a familiar name in British menswear, with customers that included Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor.
History
By the late 2000s the Austin Reed Group operated more than 90 UK outlets and had international licensees, and it sold womenswear under the Austin Reed and CC, formerly Country Casuals, labels. In 2016 the retailer entered administration, which led to the closure of its store chain. Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group then bought the brand from the administrators and relaunched it online, with plans for a return to the high street.
Products and positioning
Menswear has always been the core of the business, centred on:
- Tailored suits, jackets and trousers
- Formalwear and made to measure tailoring
- Shirts, belts, cufflinks, socks and leather goods
The womenswear offer has focused on shirts, blouses and coordinated separates.
Why it matters
Austin Reed illustrates the shift of a heritage British tailoring name from a large physical store chain to a brand relaunched by a new owner with an online-led model.
Frequently asked questions
When was Austin Reed founded?
Austin Reed began trading in 1900 as a tailoring business in the City of London.
What happened to Austin Reed?
The retailer entered administration in 2016 and the brand was bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, which relaunched it online.