| Browns | |
| Type: | Private |
| Genre: | Department Store |
| Founder: | Joan & Sidney Burstein |
| Location City: | London |
| Location Country: | England |
| Industry: | Retail |
| Parent: | Farfetch |
Browns is a London, England-based fashion boutique founded by Joan Burstein and husband Sidney in 1970. The flagship store was previously located on South Molton Street before moving to Brook Street in May 2021. In 2015, Browns was acquired by the Portuguese online fashion company Farfetch.
Joan Burstein founded Browns with her late husband, Sidney, in 1970.[1] Initially a small boutique housed on the ground floor at 27 South Molton Street, Browns grew rapidly expanding through five connecting Georgian townhouses. Their daughter Caroline Burstein founded Molton Brown before joining Browns as creative director in 1993. Their son Simon Burstein became CEO.[2]
Known for discovering talents such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, and Christopher Kane,[3] it also brought designers such as Calvin Klein, Sabine G., Armani, Ralph Lauren and Jil Sander to London.[4] Browns has continued to support both young and established fashion designers.[5]
In 2006, Joan Burstein (known in the fashion industry as Mrs B) received a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to fashion.[4] Sidney Burstein died in April 2010.[6]
In May 2015, Browns passed from family ownership when it was acquired by the fashion website Farfetch.[7] Joan Burstein stayed on as honorary chair and her son and daughter Simon and Caroline retained seats on the board.[1] [8]
Browns is located at 39 Brook Street but from 1970-2020 was located at 23-27 South Molton Street.[9] Browns also operated Browns East at 21 Club Row in East London which operated from October 2017 before closing September 2022.[10] [11] They also operated a store at 160 Sloane Street from 2012 to 2017 they previously operated at 6C Sloane Street from 1976 till the move to 160.[12] [13] Browns Focus was located at Number 24 South Molton Street and opened in 1997 but closed when the store moved.[14]
Browns has had two pop-up shops in Los Angeles and Berlin. Browns store in Los Angeles was located at the Fred Segal flagship on Sunset Boulevard and operated for eight weeks in 2018.[15] Browns took over an abandoned supermarket in the Mitte borough of Berlin for three days in November 2019.[16]
Caroline Burstein started Browns Bride in 2004 which is located at 12 Hinde Street.