Tory Burch

Tory Burch is an American accessible luxury brand founded in New York in 2004 by designer Tory Burch, known for handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear. The company is privately held, with Tory Burch as executive chair and chief creative officer and Pierre-Yves Roussel as chief executive since 2019.

What is Tory Burch?

Tory Burch is a New York-based fashion and lifestyle brand offering women's ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewellery, watches, fragrance and homeware. It is one of the best-known American accessible luxury labels, recognisable for its Double T logo.

History

Designer Tory Burch launched the label in 2004 as TRB by Tory Burch, opening a store in Manhattan's Nolita district. In 2009 she sold a minority stake to the Mexican investment firm Tresalia Capital, and further minority investors joined in 2012; the company bought back Tresalia's stake in 2018. In 2019 Pierre-Yves Roussel, formerly of LVMH, became chief executive, while Burch focused on design as executive chair and chief creative officer.

In 2015 the company launched Tory Sport, a performance activewear line covering running, tennis, golf and swimming. The Tory Burch Foundation supports women entrepreneurs.

Products and positioning

Tory Burch has moved from a preppy, bohemian look towards a more fashion-led, runway-driven aesthetic while keeping accessible luxury pricing. Key categories include:

• Handbags and small leather goods
• Shoes, including ballet flats and sandals
• Ready-to-wear shown at New York Fashion Week
• Jewellery, watches and fragrance
• Tory Sport activewear

Business model and distribution

The brand sells through about 400 of its own stores worldwide, with flagships in cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai, and through more than 3,000 department and specialty stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Harrods. It also runs e-commerce sites in several languages.

Why it matters

Tory Burch is one of the few large American fashion businesses that remains founder-led and privately held. Its shift towards a more design-led image while retaining an accessible price point makes it a reference for the accessible luxury segment.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Tory Burch?

Tory Burch is a privately held company led by its founder Tory Burch, who serves as executive chair and chief creative officer. It has had minority investors over the years and is not listed on a stock exchange.

Is Tory Burch a luxury brand?

Tory Burch is usually described as accessible luxury. Its handbags and shoes are priced above high street brands but below European luxury houses.

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