Madewell traces its name to a workwear company Julius Kivowitz started in New Bedford, Massachusetts, which filed its trademark in 1936 and opened its first factory in 1937, BuzzFeed News reported. J.Crew acquired the name and relaunched Madewell in 2006.
The products
Madewell is known for denim, including The Perfect Vintage Jean made with Candiani denim, and for its Transport Tote bags, such as The Foldover Transport Tote. Members of its Madewell Insider loyalty program get free in-store hemming.
New stores
In May 2026, Madewell announced three new stores, Retail Dive reported: Sag Harbor, New York, which opened that month, and Greenwich, Connecticut, and Bend, Oregon, which were scheduled to open in June as stores carrying both men’s and women’s clothing. The brand has about 150 stores.
Where to find it
Madewell sells through its stores and madewell.com.
Sources
- BuzzFeed News: How Madewell bought my family’s history
- Madewell: About
- Retail Dive: Madewell’s three new stores
- Madewell: The Perfect Vintage Jean
Featured photo: Phillip Pessar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. The photo shows the Madewell store at the Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables, Florida.
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