RTW Retailwinds is New York & Co

Does anyone know why New York & Company would want to change their name to RTW Retailwinds?  To be honest, I don't get it.  What does "RTW" stand for?  Or is RTW short for "Retailwinds"?  Furthermore, why change from such a widely recognized name?  Possibly they had been jealous that Google changed their name to Alphabet and Coach changed to Tapestry.

New York & Company, Inc. one of the largest omni-channel women’s specialty retailers offering exclusive celebrity and sub-brand collections, announced on  September 11, 2018 the official launch of its corporate reinvention to a multi brand lifestyle platform.  The Company’s vision is to be the premier incubator of lifestyle brands by leveraging the Company’s expertise in celebrity, design, customer, eCommerce, operations, real estate, and inventory optimization to identify creative  brands and profit opportunities. The Company’s multi brand lifestyle platform will accelerate growth of the New York & Company brand through ongoing celebrity partnerships, including collaborations with Eva Mendes, Gabrielle Union and Kate Hudson, while also expanding the recently acquired plus-size brand, Fashion to Figure, as well as introducing several new brands, including a lingerie lifestyle brand and the Kate Hudson Collection that leverage the Company’s design capabilities, digital platform, and operational expertise.  

As part of the transformation, the Company will be changing its name to RTW Retailwinds, reflecting the ability to grow the portfolio of lifestyle brands into new categories and markets.

The recently acquired plus-size brand Fashion to Figure and a new lingerie lifestyle brand will also be areas of focus.  Fashion to Figure, the Company expands into the plus-size market and will leverage its competitive assets of speed, fashion, value and community as critical points of differentiation while also amplifying the brand’s awareness and emotional connection through celebrity partnerships. 

It is interesting to note that the original owners of Fashion to Figure had filed for bankruptcy.  Fashion To Figure is a United States retailer focusing exclusively on women's plus-size clothing and related accessories. In November 2017, the parent company of Fashion to Figure, B. Lane Inc., filed for bankruptcy.  Fashion To Figure was co-founded by brothers Michael and Nicholas Kaplan, two of Lena Bryant's great-grandsons (Lena was the founder of Lane Bryant).

Learn more about New York & Company or should we say learn more about RTW Retailwinds here on Apparel Search.

• RTW Retailwinds

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