The History of Franklin and Marshall Clothing

Franklin and Marshal Fashion Clothing were inspired by the prestigious college of that name. It is a private Liberal Arts college situated in Lancaster Pennsylvania US. It is a residential college and is co-educational. There are about 2,120 full time students and 175 faculty members.

The fashion company was founded by two Italians Andrea Pensiero and Giuseppe Albarelli. They found a classic sweat shirt from the University in a London second hand clothing store in 2000. They based their line of fashionable sports apparel on this design. At this time they did not realize that there was a college of this name.

Once the college discovered the fashion company using their name and design they informed the company and worked out a license deal in 2003. The college gets a percentage of all the US sales of the clothing. However they do not get anything from international sales. The clothing company recently decided to offer a scholarship to the University but have not worked out the details yet.

At this time the company has 6 stores around the world, including Athens, Tokyo, Paris and Milan. The brand has become so popular in the Middle Eastern countries that the company plans to build 3 more stores in Kuwait and Dubai. At the end of 2011 it is estimated that the company’s annual sales totalled around 61 million dollars. The brands sell out quickly overseas, but the customers have rarely heard of the Franklin and Marshal College, where the brand originated. This still does not deter younger people from buying the brand and staying in fashion.

As they are a designer brand the clothing is of high quality. This clothing is in fashion in Europe, Japan and the Middle East. Sales do not do as well in the US and 92% of the clothing is made in Italy. Perhaps this is the reason that it is more popular in the UK and Europe. There is also a lot of University brand clothing competing with this brand in the US which may be a factor as to why the product may not have done so well here. It does have a unique style which draws attention in Europe.

At this time the college is unsure whether the publicity of the clothing company has increased admission. However both the University and the Franklin and Marshal clothing company are helping each other’s brands to become more popular.