FACTOID # 121: Houses in English-speaking countries have the most rooms.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Guess (clothing)
Guess Inc.
Type Public (NYSE: GES)
Founded Los Angeles, CA (1981)
Headquarters Los Angeles, CA
Key people Paul Marciano, co-chairman, co-CEO
Maurice Marciano, co-chairman, co-CEO
Industry Fashion
Products Clothing
Revenue $936.06 million (2005)
Employees 7,300 (2005)
Website www.guess.com
www.guessinc.com
This article is about the clothing line. For alternative meanings see guess (disambiguation).

Guess, (styled as GUESS?) is a popular American name-brand clothing line that uses a question mark as its emblem. It is known for its sexualized advertising campaigns, which have featured explicit black-and-white photographs of fashion models and actresses such as Claudia Schiffer, Drew Barrymore, Anna Nicole Smith, and Paris Hilton. Image File history File links Guess. ... A public company usually refers to a company which is permitted to offer its securities (stock, bonds, etc. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Fashion illustration by George Barbier of a gown by Jeanne Paquin, 1912, from La Gazette du bon ton, the most influential fashion magazine of its era. ... Clothing protects the vulnerable nude human body from the extremes of weather, other features of our environment, and for safety reasons. ... Revenue is a U.S. business term for the amount of money that a company earns from its activities in a given period, mostly from sales of products and/or services to customers. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... A website (alternatively, Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on a Web server, usually accessible via the Internet or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML, that is almost always accessible via HTTP, a... The word guess can refer to the following: Guess?, the name-brand clothing line that uses a question mark as its emblem. ... Clothing protects the vulnerable nude human body from the extremes of weather, other features of our environment, and for safety reasons. ... Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... Claudia Schiffer (born August 25, 1970) is a German supermodel and actress, who reached the height of her popularity during the 1990s. ... Drew Blyth Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress and film producer, the youngest member of the Barrymore family of American actors. ... Vickie Lynn Marshall (November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007), better known under the stage name of Anna Nicole Smith,[1] was an American model, actress and celebrity. ... Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebrity and socialite. ...


Guess also markets other fashion accessories besides clothes, such as watches and jewelry. They also own the line Marciano. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Russian Poljot Siberia model finished movement viewed through crystal back For other uses, see Watch (disambiguation). ... Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... Marciano is an upscale brand, which is owned and operated by Guess? Inc. ...

Contents

History

The beginning

Guess was founded by Georges, Armand, Paul, and Maurice Marciano, four brothers born in Algeria but who supposedly grew up in the south of France and were influenced by the culture and style in the region. They moved to California in 1977 and founded the company in 1981. Their first product was a three-zipper style of jeans they named "Marilyn" (Style # 1015). Department stores and fashion critics were initially reluctant to carry the new 'stone washed denim' jeans, but in December when Bloomingdale's finally agreed with Georges to stock two dozen pairs of the new jeans as a favor to the brothers. They sold out quickly. Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...


Their advertising campaigns began in 1982, and they introduced their iconic black-and-white ads in 1985. The ads have won numerous Clio Awards. Their fashion models have included a number of widely-recognized supermodels, many of whom first achieved prominence via the ad campaigns. Guess models have included: The Clio Awards are given to reward creative excellence in advertising and design. ... A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model in an elite group with a worldwide reputation. ...

The Guess emblem with the famous question mark in the centre.
The Guess emblem with the famous question mark in the centre.

During the 1980s Guess was one of the most popular brands of jeans. The company was one of the first companies to create designer jeans. While the first jeans were for women, in 1983 a men's line debuted. In 1984 Guess introduced its new line of watches known as "Guess", "Guess Steel", and "Guess Collection (Gc)." The watch line is still in existence today, and has been joined by a number of other accessory sidelines. In 1984, they also introduced a line of baby's clothes, called "Baby Guess" Alessandra Ambrosio (born April 11, 1981), popularly nicknamed Ale[3], is a Brazilian supermodel. ... Diora Baird (born April 6, 1983 in Miami, Florida) is an American actress and former model for Guess? who has appeared in films such as Wedding Crashers and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. ... Ana Beatriz Barros (born May 29, 1982 in Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil) is a Brazilian supermodel. ... Drew Blyth Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress and film producer, the youngest member of the Barrymore family of American actors. ... Carla Bruni Tedeschi (born Turin, Italy, 23 December 1968), is an Italian supermodel, songwriter and singer. ... Naomi Campbell (born May 22, 1970) is an English supermodel, actress, singer and author. ... Laetitia Marie Laure Casta (born May 11, 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine supermodel and actress. ... Megan Ewing on the cover of Marie Claire Megan Christine Ewing (born September 30, 1984 in Abilene, Texas) is a model. ... Beau Garrett is an American actress and model. ... Bridget Hall Bridget Hall is an American supermodel. ... Eva Herzigova at Cannes in 2000 On the cover of Playboy, August 2004 Eva Herzigova (born March 10, 1973, Litvinov, Czech Republic) is a supermodel and actress. ... Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebrity and socialite. ... Adriana Francesca Lima (born June 12, 1981) is a Brazilian supermodel. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Rachel Alexander Nichols is an ESPN reporter and Page2 columnist. ... Carré Otis (born September 28, 1968 in San Francisco, California) is an American model and actress best known for her role as Emily Reed in Wild Orchid. ... Claudia Schiffer (born August 25, 1970) is a German supermodel and actress, who reached the height of her popularity during the 1990s. ... Vickie Lynn Marshall (November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007), better known under the stage name of Anna Nicole Smith,[1] was an American model, actress and celebrity. ... Kim Smith may be: Kim Smith (model) Kim Smith (Reality TV) Kim Smith (EastEnders) Kim Smith (Canadian basketball star) Category: ... Ian Joseph Somerhalder (born December 8, 1978) is an American actor, male fashion model and producer. ... Image File history File links Guess. ... Image File history File links Guess. ... An emblem consists of a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept - often a concept of a moral truth or an allegory. ... The question mark(?) (also known as an interrogation point, query,[1] or eroteme) is a punctuation mark that replaces the full stop at the end of an interrogative sentence. ... Designer jeans are jeans that were marketed as fashion and status symbols. ...


Stagnation and Controversy

After Abigail's line in the 1980s the company began to take a downturn during the nineties, as other companies such as Calvin Klein, Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gap began rising in popularity. Guess's sales suffered, and its stock dropped dramatically. Calvin Richard Klein (born November 19, 1942) is a well-known American fashion designer. ... Diesel SpA simply known as Diesel is an Italian based designer clothing company which produces apparel for men and women between 18 and 35 years old. ... Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born March 24, 1951 in Elmira, New York) is a world-famous American fashion designer and creator of the eponymous Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy brands. ... Gap, Incorporated (NYSE: GPS) is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California and founded in 1969 by Donald Fisher and Doris Fisher. ...


As well as increasing competition, Guess also saw a serious tarnishing of its image during this time. More significantly, as awareness of sweatshop use among major corporations grew, Guess was quickly marked as a major offender in this area. In 1992, Guess contractors faced litigation from the US Department of Labor due to failure to pay their employees the minimum wage or adequate overtime. Rather than face a court case, $573,000 in back wages was paid to employees. Sweatshop is a pejorative term often used to describe a manufacturing facility that is physically or mentally abusive, or that crowds, confines, or compels workers, or forces them to work long and unreasonable hours, as would be the case with penal labour or slave labour. ... The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. ...


Soon afterward, Guess promised to monitor their contractors for illegal activity, and the company earned a place on the US Department of Labor's 'Trendsetters List', but this position was suspended several years later in 1996 after independent inspectors found violations of regulations at seven of the company's contractors. In the same year the company was sued by the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), again because of failure to pay the minimum wage or overtime to workers. The settlement, supervised by the US Department of Labor, saw the reinstatement of 8 workers found to have been illegally fired and another $80,000 in back pay given to workers, but almost immediately afterward Guess announced that it was moving its sewing production to Mexico. The company denied that the move was related to these court cases, but its public image continued to suffer. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE) was a labor union in the United States, formed in 1995 as a merger between the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU). ...


Throughout the nineties, UNITE continued a public relations campaign against Guess, focusing on the experiences of former employees. Eventually, Guess countered with a defamation suit against Unite and several of its officials, while in 1997 the company ran full-page ads in many major American newspapers claiming that its contractors were 'guaranteed 100% free of sweatshop labour'. The wording of these ads was changed after federal authorities complained that the claims had not been made by anyone in the government and had no official status.


While Guess saw its image severely tarnished in the United States, the company still remained fairly profitable. Guess especially began expanding in the less competitive and increasingly lucrative European and Japanese markets.


In 2005 Guess pulled a line of t-shirts from the market after Stanford’s Colombian residents called for a boycott of the company. "Ski Colombia: Always Plenty of Fresh Powder" was designed on the t-shirts released by the company in the second quarter of 2005 -- referencing to Colombia's drug-trafficking problem. Guess sent apology letters to all those who implied the company was setting a negative image of the country, however the letters seemingly left those still unsatisfied.


Upswing

In the 2000s, the company promoted a different look and sense of style, while the controversy that surrounded the company during the nineties was largely forgotten. As the marketing ads grew increasingly sexier, Guess's sales began to take a turn for the better. In 2005, Guess began catching the eye of many new people (mainly teens) who were unaware of Guess's earlier history. Since mid-2003, the Guess stock has continuously risen, eliciting nothing by positive reviews from stock holders and Wall Street, though the wider community has more mixed opinions. Recently, the clothing and accessories company has redesigned itself, offering several new aspects to the company. Elaborate marble facade of NYSE as seen from the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets For other uses, see Wall Street (disambiguation). ...


Since Guess was looking to make its impact once again on the fashion market, the Marciano brothers called upon hotel heiress and fashion mogul Paris Hilton to feature in a new series of ads. The daring ads were successful in grabbing media attention for the company. The company even promoted a line of Paris accessories including a Guess Paris Hilton handbag. Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebrity and socialite. ...


Today

In 2004, Guess celebrated the 20th anniversary of its watch collection, issuing a special-edition Guess watch. The accessories department was also greatly expanded and several stores across the United States were redesigned. Guess also created a lower priced collection sold exclusively through its outlet locations and its companion website.


Guess also introduced its first brand extension, the up-scale female line of clothing and accessories, named Marciano. The line features pricey, runway-inspired styles, and is featured in several retail locations throughout the world, as well as select Guess retail stores. In 2005 Guess began marketing fragrance. The company introduced Guess for Women in the spring of 2005. Guess introduced the Guess for Men line in the spring of 2006. Guess has also continued its Guess Kids clothing line into the 2000s, and in 2006, Guess began promoting the clothing line for girls and boys through its factory retail stores. Marciano is an upscale brand, which is owned and operated by Guess? Inc. ... Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, objects, and living spaces a pleasant smell. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Guess continues to be guided by the Marciano brothers, as co-chairmen and co-CEOs. Maurice has overseen the design and its sales growth, while Paul manages the image and advertising. The company operates in many countries around the world with the majority of their stores located in the United States and Canada. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ...


Guess has begun making strides in order to improve the overall image of their company lately. For example Guess has taken great steps to separate Guess and their Guess Factory line. A link to their Guess Factory website is longer present on the initial Guess internet site that promotes and sells their pricier, history driven designs. Guess Inc. wants to improve the image of their line to enhance it's public standing as high-class, and exclusive. Guess has also pushed the idea of "sales" or "discounts" out of their main sales strategies. CHANEL a luxury brand known for its handbags, and famous "CC" design takes a similar approach, where their items are never discounted or put on sale; this focus allows the company to maintain a strictly exclusive name. Unlike Chanel, Guess doesn't have to worry about counterfeit clothing or designs -- as compared to Chanel, Guess is placed in a much lower price-range. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...


Expansion

In October, 2006 Guess expanded their shoe-line by re-introducing men's shoes. Guess pulled the men's shoe collection from their establishment back in 2003 due to lack-luster sales and interest. The initial response was slow, however by early 2007, the new men's footwear line began to increase steadily, and Guess? has continued to push and introduce new designs into the line. The men's footwear line now offers more than 15 styles ranging between sandals to dress shoes. The pricing for the footwear varies between $49, and $140.


In November, 2006 Guess introduced their Marciano men's line, which is available exclusively through Guess.com, and select Guess and Marciano retailers throughout the country. As of November, 2006 the new men's collection features button up shirts, blazers, and dress pants. The men's line will, like the women's line, be developed and manufactured in Florence, Italy; and will be available for a higher price. As of January, 2007 the Marciano men's line was pulled from Guess? stores due to lack luster sales. The merchandise was marked down, and will be sent to factory outlet stores upon deletion.


After the success of the fragrance line which included scents for both men and women, Guess? introduced two new fragrances. Guess? Gold is the latest addition to the women's collection, while Guess? Suede was the second installment for the men's fragrance. Both scents retail for around $50 and are available in several retail locations.


With fiscal Spring 2007, Guess? entered a new phase with their GC watch collection. The newest additions are in response to the growing demand for designer watches featuring eye-catching designs, and high-end prices. The new watches help to expand the popular GC collection, and help to separate it from the mid-price watches Guess? has come to be known for. Moving away from the traditional steel material used to produce the majority of Guess? watches, the company along with Callanen International, the producer of Guess? watches have introduced gold, silver, and diamonds into the designs. The new products are all Swiss made, and boast a much higher pricer. The GC men's collection now range between $200 and $1,200, while the women's watches are being sold between $200 and $1,000. TAG Heuer, Dolce & Gabbanna, and Fendi all place the highest on Guess's competition with entry level high-end watches. D&G, in late 2006 launched a massive campaign promoting their new D&G watch collection, marketing on such TV channels as MTV. TAG Heuer is a Swiss watchmaker known for its mid - high range sports watches and chronographs. ... Logo of Fendi, SpA Fendi is an Italian fashion designer brand founded in 1918. ... MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network headquartered in New York City. ...


See also

LA Denim Atelier is an American name-brand clothing designed by members of the Guess? design team and owned by Maurice and Paul Marciano, Guess? co-founders. ...

External links



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.