Vince

Vince was established in 2002 in Los Angeles by Rea Laccone and Christopher LaPolice. The pair started the label as a contemporary clothing line focused on minimalist essentials in cashmere, cotton, and other soft yarns.

The original proposition was straightforward. A wardrobe of basics designed in California and sold through department stores like Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman. Early on, the trade press settled on a consistent descriptor, calling it a “minimalist label” whose knitwear became its calling card.

Menswear arrived as a defined expansion. In fall 2007, Vince introduced a menswear collection. The brand opened its first retail store on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles in spring 2008 and launched its online store the same month.

The men’s design language centered on lightweight cashmere crew necks, washed cotton tees, slim trousers, leather jackets, and unstructured outerwear. The label sat in the same contemporary tier as Theory, Rag & Bone, and James Perse.

A further milestone came in 2013, when the company filed for an IPO of up to $200 million with the SEC. Shares listed on the NYSE under the ticker VNCE.

Patrik Ervell joined as creative director of Vince Menswear in 2017. He brought a utilitarian design reputation and an approach he described to GQ as “high classic California,” classic staples relaxed and adaptable to modern day pursuits.

The business has changed hands more than once. In September 2006, Vince was sold to Kellwood Company. Co-founders Rea Laccone and Christopher LaPolice first departed in 2013, just ahead of the IPO.

After the brand hit a rough patch, the pair returned as creative consultants in 2015 to execute a reset, then left for a second time in 2017. In 2023, Authentic Brands Group purchased its intellectual property in a $76.5 million deal, restructuring the company around a licensing model.

Today, Vince occupies the contemporary tier of American menswear. The brand dresses a customer who wants soft tailoring, neutral palettes, and knit-driven layering pieces at a price point below European designer labels but above mass-market alternatives. Stores operate in major US cities, with a wholesale presence across Nordstrom, Saks, and Bloomingdale’s.