Aeropostale

Aéropostale is a U.S. specialty apparel retailer focused on casual clothing and accessories for teens and young adults. Its stores feature denim, graphic T‑shirts, fleece, shorts, dresses, and everyday basics at accessible price points, with extended sizing and kids’ offerings available online and through select partners. The brand sells primarily under the Aéropostale name through a mix of full-line stores, outlet locations, shop‑in‑shops, and its global e‑commerce site.

The company was founded in 1987, when the first Aéropostale stores opened in U.S. malls as a private‑label concept under Federated Department Stores. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, it grew rapidly across regional and super‑regional malls and became a familiar junior apparel name known for graphic hoodies, logo tees, and large denim presentations. By the early 2010s, Aéropostale had expanded to hundreds of locations across the United States, added a meaningful Canadian presence, and established an emerging international footprint through licensees.

Changing fashion trends, heavy dependence on enclosed malls, and intense price competition ultimately pressured the business. Aéropostale filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016 and was acquired later that year by a consortium led by Authentic Brands Group, with Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties, now part of Brookfield, as key investors. The acquisition marked a shift to an asset‑light model that relies more on licensing and partnerships while preserving a core store fleet.

Over roughly the last five years, Aéropostale has completed most of its post‑bankruptcy fleet rationalization and repositioned its brick‑and‑mortar strategy. The brand has focused on closing weaker locations, improving productivity in remaining markets, and leaning into outlets, value‑oriented regional and super‑regional malls, and international licensed stores. New unit activity has been most visible in outlet centers and in licensed markets across Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, while online sales and digital engagement have grown alongside the physical footprint.

As of January 2024, Aéropostale has about 1,000 locations worldwide across a combination of company‑operated and licensed stores and shop‑in‑shops. This scale, paired with long-standing name recognition among Gen Z and Millennial shoppers, positions the brand as a reliable traffic driver for outlet centers, value-focused enclosed malls, and select open‑air environments where junior fashion is important. Under Authentic Brands Group, Aéropostale continues to pursue an active but selective growth posture, concentrating on proven trade areas and strong partners while using its mixed model of outlets, full-price stores, and shop‑in‑shops to adapt to different retail projects.