CONGLOMERATES : WHAT'S LEFT?

With conglomerates unassumingly puppeteering a large proportion of our shopping destinations, we find ourselves innocently strolling in and out of shops owned by the same company, but if we remove the conglomerates from the equation...

WHAT'S LEFT?

FOUNDED : 1948

FOUNDERS : Bernard Lewis (and brothers)

River Island - FKA Chelsea Girl - is a privately owned fashion retailer which, as of July 2015, has over 300 stores nationwide, aswell as stores spread all across the globe.

Although it may not be everyones cup of tea with its sometimes loud colour palettes, brazen branding and array of fast fashion trends filling the racks, River Island is a go-to shop for many young people all around the country, and I believe it has a standalone aesthetic. 

Its affordable, everyday glamour lines the wardrobe of girls up and down the country - its an accessible gateway into the trends of the moment.

FOUNDED : 1971

FOUNDER : David Reiss

Reiss is a privately owned fashion retailer thats boasts almost 100 stores worldwide, with 65 of them located primarily in the UK.

Reiss is a brand that provides consistent, undeniably clean cut, quality pieces season after season. The destination for the tasteful dresser who likes to invest in long term looks as opposed to a fast fashion fix - Reiss has a strong, standalone brand identity. 

Appreciated equally by men and women, this retailer equips you with sturdy staples that will see you through the year.

FOUNDED : 1984

FOUNDER : Do Won Chang

Forever 21 is a high street retailer which began in Los Angeles, and can now be found globally with stores in Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa and Oceania.

Forever 21 is a continual source of youth and embodies the excitable spirit of the teenager. Another brand that offers on trend pieces at an economical price, it is the go to place for young girls with a thirst for fashion. I would say there is no other store that caters in the way F21 does to that specific, very 'inbetween' age group.

 The vibrant glow of the store shines like a beacon of effervescence.

FOUNDED : 1989

FOUNDER : Dov Charney

American Apparel is a publicly owned fashion retailer with more than 200 stores worldwide, and a loyal consumer base.

Forever plagued with opinions on their controversial, often uncomfortably voyeuristic advertisements, you can't deny American Apparel's indisputable sense of identity and cult following. Kitting out guys with their infamous Fisherman Knits, and girls with their coveted Easy Jeans - and providing the very popular Disco Pants during that hype a few years back - AA channels their attention on basics like no other store does.

American Apparel is simplistic, stark, and instantly identifiable - from its metal grid changing rooms to its synonymous Helvetica font.