A day after announcing a trio of partnerships that will operate Forever 21’s wholesale and online retail in the U.S., Authentic Brands Group said that it’s on the verge of opening physical locations here as well.
The brand’s American operating company filed for Chapter 11 earlier this year and is winding down after failing to attract a buyer; that has meant closing all locations. The bankruptcy doesn’t involve operations abroad, and the brand still operates stores and runs pop-up activations in certain international markets. As a brand management firm, Authentic has held onto the fast-fashion label’s intellectual property throughout.
“We are in advanced discussions with a leading retail operating partner to open new U.S. stores,” an Authentic spokesperson said by email. “This is part of our commitment to maintaining a physical presence for the brand and ensuring its continued success by balancing its touch points across digital and in-store experiences.”
The company declined to provide further information about when, where or how many stores might open, but said it would be “sharing more details in the coming year.”