Rebecca Taylor
United States
Rebecca Taylor is a New York womenswear label founded in 1996 by New Zealand-born designer Rebecca Taylor with Elizabeth Bugdaycay. It is known for classically feminine, romantic clothing. Ownership has changed several times, and the current owner could not be verified.
| Founded | 1996, New York |
|---|---|
| Founders | Rebecca Taylor and Elizabeth Bugdaycay |
| Acquired 2011 by | Kellwood Co. (parent Sun Capital Partners) |
| Headquarters | New York, United States |
| Core product | Contemporary womenswear |
| Current owner | Not verified |
| Website | rebeccataylor.com |
What is Rebecca Taylor?
Rebecca Taylor is a womenswear label designed in New York City. Its website describes the collection as a classically feminine wardrobe inspired by romance in all its forms, covering dresses, tops, skirts, bottoms, knitwear and outerwear.
History
The brand was founded in 1996 in New York by designer Rebecca Taylor, who is from New Zealand, and co-founder Elizabeth Bugdaycay. In January 2011 it was acquired by Kellwood Co. and its parent Sun Capital Partners, with The Sage Group acting as exclusive financial adviser to the brand.
A brand profile from Disco Brands states that the founder left in 2019, that Vince Holding Corp. then took ownership, and that Steven Cateron was named creative director in 2020. The same profile says Vince announced its exit from the business in September 2022 and wound it down in early 2023. The brand's website is nevertheless live, and its present ownership could not be confirmed, so no current owner is named here.
Products and positioning
The label is known for tops, floral printed silk dresses, lace and ruffle detailing, tweed jackets and printed blouses shown at New York Fashion Week, positioned in the premium contemporary segment.
Business model and distribution
At the time of the Kellwood acquisition the brand sold through department stores and specialists including Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lane Crawford and Selfridges, and operated its own stores in Japan, Hong Kong and New York as well as an e-commerce site.
Why it matters
Rebecca Taylor shows how an independent New York designer label can be absorbed into a larger apparel group and later face restructuring.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Rebecca Taylor?
Kellwood Co. and Sun Capital Partners acquired it in 2011, and a third-party profile says Vince Holding Corp. took ownership in 2019 before exiting in 2022 to 2023. The current owner could not be verified.
Where is Rebecca Taylor from?
Rebecca Taylor is a New York label. Its founder is a New Zealand-born designer who started the brand in 1996.