2008 | Worldwide
Esprit celebration 68/08
In 2008 Esprit celebrates its birthday with a number of activities across all divisions and licence partners. Customers may look forward to countless specials and events ...
2007 | Ratingen
Esprit launches de.corp
Trendier and more progressive than its "big sister" Esprit women casual, the new Esprit division addresses 18-25-year-old customers who are in search of a clean, urban and young style. The first set of garments presented by de.corp ESPRIT URBAN CASUAL features a cool 80s inspired look.
2007 | Munich
edc by Esprit and MTV Networks announce extensive partnership
First solo performance of the edc by Esprit brand as a sponsor of Europe’s biggest music event – the MTV Europe Music Awards. The cooperation of both partners reflects the inseparable connection between fashion and music and allows for selectively addressing young fashion- and music-conscious Europeans.
2006 | Ratingen
Global lifestyle player
The Esprit brand is sold in five continents and more than 40 countries, 640 freestanding stores and over 12,000 wholesale customers. More than 20,000 products are designed each year for 12 product lines for women, men and kids - and in addition a wide variety of licence products for every part of life!
2004 | Ratingen
Ettore Sottsass exhibition
In the Global Business Headquarters Esprit commemorated Ettore Sottsass with an exhibition. This partnership with the designer and founder of the Memphis style has existed since 1982. His design and architecture formed the Esprit stores and showrooms worldwide. Ettore Sottsass was substantially involved in building up the brand.
2002 | New York
Global reintegration
Esprit Holdings Ltd. unified the global Esprit brand by purchasing the US trademarks and the remaining interests in Esprit International, bringing the brand back under the control of one single entity for the first time since the 70s.
2001 | Düsseldorf
Brand awareness
The worldwide brand awareness grew, especially in Germany, by 84%, a record.
2000 | Hong Kong
New millennium
Esprit Holdings Ltd. became a constituent stock of Morgan Stanley's MSCI Hong Kong Index. The new millennium opened with Esprit asking: “How much faster can we grow?” In the new millennium, new product lines such as sportswear, clothes for newborns and toys were introduced.
1996 | New York
Worldwide expansion
Esprit was represented in 44 countries worldwide, and ranked 28th out of the 100 most recognised brands in the United States.
1995 | San Francisco
New product worlds
Design philosophy applies to new product worlds: eyewear, timewear, bath & bed, socks & tights.
1993 | Hong Kong
Esprit Asia on the stock exchange
Esprit's Asian distribution business listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as Esprit Asia Holdings Limited.
1992 | San Francisco
“What would you do to change the world?”
The “What would you do to change the world?” campaign became well known and famous worldwide.
1989 | San Francisco
“Esprit, the Comprehensive Design Principle”
The Japanese art publisher Robundo published “Esprit, the Comprehensive Design Principle”. Esprit was now launched in France, Norway and the UK.
1987 | San Francisco
Engagement
Susie and Doug Tompkins urged the public to confront the growing AIDS epidemic. In the same year the company expanded into Taiwan, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.
1986 | Cologne
First Esprit store in Germany
Cologne was the location of the first opening of an Esprit store in Germany. The store was designed by Ettore Sottsass with typical elements of the Memphis style.
1979 | New York
Esprit triple-bar “E” logo
In 1979 John Casado designed the famous Esprit stencil-effect logo. Despite worries that the triple-bar “E” would not be legible to customers, the new logo became one of the most recognised and memorable in international fashion.
1978 | San Francisco
Esprit takes off
Sales topped US$ 100 million and international partnerships in Hong Kong and Germany were formed.
1971 | Hong Kong
Esprit Far East started business
Esprit Far East Group was born when Doug and Susie Tompkins met Michael Ying, the group's former chairman and shareholder of Esprit.
1971 | San Francisco
Seven product lines
The company incorporated under the name of Esprit de corp. and seven product lines were created.
1968 | San Francisco
Esprit - the brand was born
Susie and Doug Tompkins started selling Esprit clothes out of the back of their station waggon.
