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'''White Stuff '''is a fashion and lifestyle brand selling women’s and men’s clothing and accessories in over 85 UK shops and online
{{Primary sources|date=June 2020}}
{{Peacock|date=March 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox company
| name = White Stuff Clothing
| logo = 220519 White Stuff Wiki logo 146x129.jpg
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_caption =
| foundation = [[Val d'Isère]], {{Start date|1985}} as ''Boys from the White Stuff''
| founder = George Treves<br />Sean Thomas
| area_served = [[United Kingdom]]
| key_people =
| industry = [[Retailing|Retail]]
| products = [[Clothing]]<br />Casual Menswear and Womenswear<br />[[Fashion accessory|Accessories]]
| location_city = [[London]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.whitestuff.com/foundation}}
}}
'''''White Stuff''''' is a British fashion and lifestyle brand that sells women’s, men’s and children's clothing, accessories, homeware and gifts in over 120 shops in the [[United Kingdom]], shops in Germany, via mail-order catalogues and through its website. The brand has become known for its traditional British styles, idiosyncratic boutique stores and innovative marketing campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Banham |first=Mark |date=2023-05-11 |title=First look: White Stuff opens new Glasgow store |url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/first-look-white-stuff-opens-new-glasgow-store |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Drapers |language=en}}</ref>
 
White Stuff was founded in 1985 by George Treves and Sean Thomas. Starting under the name “Boys from the White Stuff” white stuff refers to snow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitestuff.com/other-stuff%2Fabout-us|title=About Us &#124; White Stuff|website=www.whitestuff.com}}</ref> Their printed T-shirts and sweatshirts became popular in the alpine region of [[Val d'Isère]]. The first White Stuff Clothing store was opened in [[London]] in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British clothing and lifestyle brand White Stuff taps Akeneo product information management tech |url=https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2023/2/17/british-clothing-and-lifestyle-brand-white-stuff-taps-akeneo-product-information-management-tech |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Retail Technology Innovation Hub |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
==History==
White Stuff was founded in 1985 by two friends, George Treves and Sean Thomas. Keen skiers, the pair decided to work together to find a way of funding their passion. They devised a business plan to sell T-shirts with abstract motifs that would appeal to skiers. They thought up the name "Boys from the White Stuff" – a play on the title of the popular film and TV series “[[Boys from the Blackstuff]]” by [[Alan Bleasdale]]. Sean Thomas sold the initial batch of 100 T-shirts very quickly in the company’s inaugural year, while George Treves stayed at home in the UK to work on a course at catering college.
The company was founded by Sean Thomas and George Treves, as a venture to sell ‘Boys from the White Stuff’ [[Sweaters|sweatshirts]] in bars around the French Alpine ski resort town of [[Val d'Isère]] in 1985. The founders, keen fans of ,skiing initially focused on outdoor garments, including skiwear and fleeces, for men.
 
The following season, they began printing sweatshirts as well as T-shirts which, according to Treves, “started to gain Alpine kudos as a grass roots level; it had an aspirational value for holidaymakers who had seen ski workers wearing it”. Treves and Thomas toured the French Alpine ski resort town of [[Val d'Isère]], selling their products in hotels and bars from a suitcase. During the off-seasons, when they could not sell their garments, Treves worked as a decorator and Thomas as a driver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/mbas-guide/me-and-my-partner-george-treves-and-sean-thomas-638443.html|title = Me and My Partner: George Treves and Sean Thomas|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 15 November 2000}}</ref>
 
At the turn of the 21st Century, Treves and Thomas were continuing to design White Stuff’s clothing lines. In February 2004 Thomas and Treves hired Sally Bailey, former Brand Director of Miss Selfridge, to help develop the brand. Over the next five years, Bailey moved the White Stuff label away from its original image as a winter wear retailer to begin focusing on a more bohemian, urban audience. Bailey stepped down from her position as CEO in 2013 and was replaced by Jeremy Seigal, formerly of Watson and [[The Perfume Shop]]. In 2018, Jo Jenkins, previously at Marks and Spencer joined the company as CEO.
By 2018, the company had grown to have more than 115 stores across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including stores in [[Guernsey]] and [[Isle of Man]]. White Stuff is also available in many [[House of Fraser]] and [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]] stores in the UK, and in Germany as part of [[Karstadt]].
 
==White Stuff Foundation==
The White Stuff Foundation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitestuff.com/about-us-foundation_about/ |title=White Stuff {{!}} Happy-ness in Every Stitch |website=www.whitestuff.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527080254/http://www.whitestuff.com/about-us-foundation_about/ |archive-date=2014-05-27}} </ref> was founded in May 2010, in celebration of the company's 25th anniversary. Today the foundation is based in Lambeth, London. White Stuff Clothing stated their aim to fulfil 25 pledges to show White Stuff's social and environmental commitments, and in particular aims at helping disadvantaged young people. The first of the White Stuff’s pledges was the creation of a charitable foundation, into which White Stuff donate 1% of their annual profits.
 
Currently the White Stuff Foundation supports more than 100 small and local charities in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitestuff.com/partner-charities/ |title=White Stuff {{!}} Happy-ness in Every Stitch |website=www.whitestuff.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527080515/http://www.whitestuff.com/partner-charities/ |archive-date=2014-05-27}} </ref> These are predominantly in the urban areas close to White Stuff's stores and distribution centres, and every branch of White Stuff is partnered with its own charity. The White Stuff Foundation also supports two charities in [[India]] and two in [[Denmark]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cplondon.org.uk/support-us/corporate/the-white-stuff-foundation/ |title=» The White Stuff Foundation » London Centre For Children with Cerebral Palsy |website=www.cplondon.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213023934/http://www.cplondon.org.uk/support-us/corporate/the-white-stuff-foundation/ |archive-date=2013-02-13}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://koolteee.com/|title=Koolteee - Fashion changes, but style endures}}</ref> Donations accepted by the White Stuff Foundation go towards supporting these partner charities.
Over the following 15 years the brand grew, introducing womenswear, home shopping, a wholesale business, and establishing 15 shops. Retail lines were no longer exclusively composed of outdoor clothing, but included smarter casual wear. In February 2004 Thomas and Treves hired Sally Bailey, ex-Brand Director of [[Miss Selfridge]], to help develop the brand. It expanded over the next five years to own 60 [[Retailing|shops]], over 100 wholesale accounts, and operate a sales website and catalogue business.
 
White Stuff stores are responsible for hosting their own fundraising events. This has led to the creation of many campaigns, including [[Surf Relief]], [[Give a Gnome a Home]], National Wear a Tea Cosy on Your Head Day and Charity Flip Flops, as well as local events, such as bake sales and raffles throughout each year.{{cn|date=April 2023}} White Stuff stores will also sell the props used as part of their window displays at the end of every season, with proceeds going to the White Stuff Foundation.{{cn|date=April 2023}}
==[http://www.whitestuff.com/foundation White Stuff Foundation]==
Mission and Vision
 
==Stores==
The [http://www.whitestuff.com/foundation White Stuff Foundation] wants to make the world a little happier by helping disadvantaged children and young people in our local communities. The aim of the Foundation is to help children and young people realise their true potential and to support their health and well-being.
In 1991, the first White Stuff shop was opened in Clapham, London. White Stuff boutiques are, according to the company website, “more than just shops, they are places where people can meet and socialise.” White Stuff regularly hosts events inside its stores (including the regular White Stuff Book Club), allows customers to bring pets inside with them, and has dedicated areas for children with colouring books and dens. Some White Stuff stores include their own cinemas, pick ‘n’ mix counters and bespoke changing rooms decorated in themed styles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitestuff.com/shops/|title = Store Finder}}</ref>
 
White Stuff has more than 100 stores including [[Edinburgh]], [[Nottingham]], [[Manchester]] and [[Battersea]].
http://www.whitestuff.com/foundation
 
== References ==
{{reflistReflist}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.retail-week.com/sally-bailey-white-stuff-the-right-stuff/1935907.article|title=Sally Bailey, White Stuff: The right stuff|date=27 November 2008|work=Retail Week|accessdate=2009-08-12}}
*{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article2772234.ece|title=A gentle upward slope|date=31 October 2007|work=The Times Online|accessdate=2009-08-12 | location=London | first=Rosalind | last=Renshaw}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/29/white-stuff-sally-bailey|title=The guide who led White Stuff off the piste|date=29 March 2009|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2009-08-11 | location=London | first=Zoe | last=Wood}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/mbas-guide/me-and-my-partner-george-treves-and-sean-thomas-638443.html|title=Me And My Partner: George Treves and Sean Thomas|date=15 November 2000|work=The Independent|accessdate=2009-08-11 | location=London}}
*{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies/best_100_tables/|title=The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies 2009|date=11 August 2009|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2009-08-11 | location=London}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/business/businesstruth/movers_and_shakers/4362329/White-Stuff-CEO-Sally-Bailey-is-passionate-about-business.html|title=White Stuff CEO Sally Bailey is passionate about business|date=27 Jan 2009|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-27 | location=London}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2791671/White-Stuff-founders-set-to-reap-cash-avalanche.html|title=White Stuff founders set to reap cash avalanche|last=Harrington|first=Ben|date=15 Jun 2008|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-27 | location=London}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.wealth-bulletin.com/home/content/1050293383|title=Ski clothing founders set to net millions|last=Allison|first=Ian|date=5 February 2008|work=Wealth Bulletin|accessdate=2009-07-27}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2789881/White-Stuff-dances-to-happier-high-street-tune.html|title=White Stuff dances to happier high street tune|last=Sibun|first=Jonathan|date=13 May 2008|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-27 | location=London}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/business/businesstruth/movers_and_shakers/4362410/Business-Clothes-retailer-White-Stuff-listens-to-the-customer.html|title=Business: Clothes retailer White Stuff listens to the customer|last=Dunne|first=Helen|date=27 Jan 2009|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2009-07-27 | location=London}}
* Goldfingle, Gemma (15 Feb 2013). [http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/fashion/white-stuff-hires-former-superdrug-boss-jeremy-seigal-as-chief-executive/5046241.article "White Stuff hires former Superdrug boss Jeremy Seigal as chief executive"] Retail Week 2013-08-02
* Mcdonald, George (31 Jul 2013). [http://www.retail-week.com/companies/white-stuff/white-stuff-profits-rocket-as-retailer-returns-to-form/5051584.article "White Stuff profits rocket as retailer returns to form".] Retail Week 2013-07-13
 
== External links ==
*[http://www.whitestuff.com/ White Stuff websiteClothing Website]
==*[http://www.whitestuff.com/foundation/ White Stuff Foundation]==
 
[[Category:Clothing retailers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Clothing brands]]