TORONTO – As Canadian retail darling Aritzia gears up to report its latest quarterly earnings Wednesday, it continues to stand out as a leader and trendsetter in a complex, rollercoaster retail environment.
The Vancouver-born fashion company founded by Brian Hill in 1984 and now run by long-time employee Jennifer Wong, has developed somewhat of a cult following, particularly over the last decade, successfully tapping into the social media, influencer generation.
And retail experts expect the momentum to continue.
In a recent note to clients, RBC Capital Markets analyst Irene Nattel said Aritzia “enjoys an exceptional runway as it continues to seed the U.S. market, grow its online presence and expand assortment into new categories, all backed by strong manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.”
Even celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Meghan Markle have been seen sporting Aritzia clothing within the last few years.
And after a pair of vegan leather pants went viral on TikTok in 2020, the company has further solidified itself as a one of the trendiest brands today, especially among Gen Z.
During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic when businesses were forced to close their doors and global supply chains were snarled, e-commerce helped the company drive performance, and when boutiques reopened, sales quickly surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
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