Wallis (retail)
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| Private | |
| Industry | Women's Clothing Fashion |
| Founded | Chapel Market, Islington, London, United Kingdom in 1923 |
| Founder | Raphael Nat Wallis |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
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Key people
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Sir Philip Green (Chairman) |
| Products |
Clothing Accessories Shoes |
| Parent | Arcadia Group |
| Website | www |
Wallis is a British women's clothing retailer. The brand operates from 134 stores and 126 concessions across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Wallis is a subsidiary of the Arcadia Group and one of the many companies under ownership of Philip Green.
The first store was opened by the founder, Raphael Nat Wallis, in Chapel Market, Islington in 1923. Known from the start for its coats (sold originally for 19 shillings) and dresses, it had the slogan: 'Comparison invited. Competition defied". By the 1940s, the chain had 25 shops and a turnover of 300,000 a year.
From the 1950s, under the leadership of Jeffrey Wallis, son of the founder, the company became known for its selections from Paris – from 1957 this was known as 'pick of Paris', later this became 'Paris Originals' – and produced exact copies of top couture clothes. Paying a fee to attend the fashion shows of names such as Courrèges, Chanel and Dior, Wallis buyers were then entitled to reproduce a small number of patterns from each show – in practice, another dozen or so would be recreated from memory. The store's mannequins would wear canvas covers in the run up to a grand unveiling of the latest designs. The copies of Chanel suits created by the store attracted a loyal following among London socialites and working women alike. During the Profumo Affair trial, Christine Keeler wore a different Wallis outfit every day.
From the late 1960s, the focus was on younger British designers – in keeping with Swinging London trends. Wallis had already attracted interest from foreign buyers and took a collection of clothing to the US at the request of American buyers in 1964. It comprised some 70 coats, suits and dresses.
In 1969, Sylvia Ayton – formerly in partnership with Zandra Rhodes – took over as head of outerwear at Wallis. She would attend the Paris fashion shows with Jeffrey Wallis and take notes, afterwards deciding which designs would be copied. Then they would return to look at them on the hanger and take measurements. Ayton recalled: "At Saint Laurent, you were only allowed to look, so I would measure it up in my mind." Often this would be enough and the garments would be on sale in Wallis stores before the 'official' patterns arrived from Paris.
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Wikipedia