Aritzia acquires iconic Fred Segal brand, plans revival of original L.A. flagship

Homegrown fashion and retail powerhouse Aritzia has acquired the Fred Segal brand—as reported by WWD—having secured a lease for its original flagship location at 8100 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing U.S. expansion strategy.

The deal includes ownership of Fred Segal’s intellectual property and trademarks. Financial terms were not disclosed. Aritzia purchased the brand from Fred Segal Family LLC, positioning the Vancouver-founded retailer to revive one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable retail names while extending its reach south of the border.

The acquisition underscores Aritzia’s ambitions to deepen its footprint in the U.S., its largest growth market. It also presents the opportunity—and challenge—of restoring Fred Segal’s cultural relevance after a period of decline that saw several physical locations close, including its Sunset Boulevard and Malibu stores in 2024.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fred Segal (@fredsegal)

“Fred Segal has long been a cultural touchstone in Los Angeles—a place where creativity, community and style converge,” Jennifer Wong, chief executive officer of Aritzia, said in a statement released to WWD. “We are honored to steward and evolve this iconic brand for a new generation with the elevated experience and ‘everyday luxury’ that define Aritzia.”

Aritzia plans to restore the original Melrose Avenue location into what it calls an “experiential destination,” combining retail with immersive brand experiences and community-focused programming.

“The space will bring together curated product and immersive experiences that transcend traditional retail while also serving as a dynamic lifestyle hub. Our focus now is on revitalizing the Fred Segal brand across product and retail, with the goal of reestablishing it as a true destination,” the company added.

For Aritzia, the acquisition aligns with its broader growth strategy centred on geographic expansion, e-commerce and brand awareness. The move adds to a pattern of strategic investments by the Vancouver company, which has steadily expanded beyond its Canadian roots.

Founded in 1984 by Brian Hill inside his family’s Vancouver department store, Hill’s of Kerrisdale, Aritzia opened its first standalone location soon after at Oakridge Centre and expanded steadily across Canada through the 1990s. Its U.S. expansion began in 2007 with a store in Bellevue, Washington, followed by the launch of e-commerce in 2012 and an initial public offering in 2016. The company has since built a portfolio of in-house labels under its “Everyday Luxury” banner—including Babaton, Wilfred, TNA, Sunday Best and the widely recognized Super Puff jackets—helping fuel its growth into a major North American fashion retailer.

Now, the brand sees potential for as many as 200 stores in the U.S., underscoring the importance of that market to its future, while continuing to invest at home. Last year, the retailer announced plans to open one of its largest flagship stores at Vancouver’s CF Pacific Centre, taking over four floors of the former Nordstrom space.

BCBusiness reached out to Aritzia for additional comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.