Holt Renfrew
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Holt Renfrew
History
The company that was to become Holt Renfrew was founded as a hat shop in Quebec City, Canada, in 1837, by Irishman William Samuel Henderson. In 1849, William introduced furs into the business and three years later sold the shop to his brother John. In 1860, G.R. Renfrew became a partner to form Henderson, Renfrew & Co. After another change in partnership in 1867, John Holt joined the company that would officially become Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd. in 1908. Historically renowned for fine furs, Holt Renfrew received the prestigious honour of five generations of royal warrants under Queen Victoria's reign and appointed Furrier-in-Ordinary to her Majesty. In the 1930s and 1940s, international designers were added and the oldest existing contract was secured with the house of Christian Dior for exclusive representation of its haute couture furs. In 1986, Holt Renfrew resumed its Canadian ownership after a decade of foreign investment. Under the chairmanship of Galen Weston, Canada’s predominant retail entrepreneur, the company showed considerable growth. The past few years have seen the unveiling of two beautiful Holt Renfrew flagship stores in Vancouver and Calgary. In 2007, Holt Renfrew expanded its Vancouver location to include 137,000 sq. ft. In 2009, Holt Renfrew doubled the size of its Calgary store to 151,000 sq. ft. and introduced 64 new brands to the market. Holt Renfrew is recognized worldwide for its extraordinary shopping experience and is the leader in luxury retail in Canada. Holt Renfrew has nine stores in Canada: Toronto (three), Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
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Key dates
1837 : Company founded in Quebec City
1886 : Five generations of royal warrants under Queen Victoria's reign
1908: The group became Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd.
1940: Exclusive representation of Christian Dior for of its haute couture furs.
2004: Holt Renfrew was named "Store of the Year" by the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers at its 33rd annual Retail Design Awards -
Brands
Lanvin, Balenciaga, Philippe Audibert, Dries van Noten, Balmain, Celine, Christian Louboutin, Brian Atwood, Brunello Cucinelli... -
