{{short description|British clothing brand}} {{About|| the Philippine clothing brand| Bench (Philippine clothing brand)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Bench Global Ltd. | logo = Bench-Logo.svg | type = Privately held company | genre = | foundation = {{Start date and age|1989|df=yes}} | founders = {{Unbulleted list | Nayef Marar | Barrie Suddons}} | location_city = Manchester | location_country = England | location = | locations = | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = | industry = Fashion | products = Apparel | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = (50% owned by Emeram Capital GmbH, 50% independently owned) | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{url|bench.co.uk}}<br />{{url|bench.ca}} | footnotes = }}
[[File:BenchPromenade.jpg|thumb|Bench store in Promenade, Canada]]
'''Bench Global Ltd.''' (usually branded as "'''Bench.'''") is a British clothing brand that is sold worldwide, including in Europe and Canada. The company was founded in Manchester, England,<ref name="about bench">{{cite web|url=http://www.bench.co.uk/about/ |title=Bench Online Shop | About Bench | Bench : The official clothing site | Hoodies | Jeans | Jackets | T-Shirts |access-date=2012-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707101903/http://www.bench.co.uk/about/ |archive-date=2012-07-07 }}</ref> and specialises in streetwear.
== History == The brand began in 1989 creating graphic T-shirt designs influenced by skateboarding. The Manchester based fashion firm was founded by Nayef Marar and Barrie Suddons, and was acquired in 2004 by a management team led by finance director Alan Horridge for the company ''Americana'' for £20m.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-10 |title=Top fashion firm in £20m MBO |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/top-fashion-firm-in-20m-mbo-1149977 |access-date=2021-07-22 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722133958/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/top-fashion-firm-in-20m-mbo-1149977 |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the years, Bench has evolved into a global lifestyle brand that now sells not only menswear but womenswear,<ref name="about bench"/> including denim, trousers, sweats, hoodies, belts, bags, skirts and dresses.
The company appointed administrators in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/bench-files-for-administration |title=Bench files for Administration |date=30 April 2018 |access-date=14 June 2018 |archive-date=24 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924104158/https://www.drapersonline.com/news/bench-files-for-administration |url-status=live }}</ref>
Gordon Brothers have secured the brand for continued development.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Media|first=Insider|title=Deal agreed for Bench brand|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-west/deal-agreed-for-bench-brand|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Insider Media Ltd|date=5 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722134118/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-west/deal-agreed-for-bench-brand|url-status=live}}</ref>
Apparel Brands Limited have secured the European license to relaunch the European Bench.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whelan|first=Grace|date=2019-07-09|title=Exclusive: Bench relaunches for spring 20|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/bench-relaunches-for-spring-20|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Drapers|language=en|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722134210/https://www.drapersonline.com/news/bench-relaunches-for-spring-20|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2020, the company announced that all 24 of its stores in Canada would be closed and that it would "focus more on our e-commerce business as well as our key wholesale customers".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/01/23/bench-athletic-wear-is-closing-all-of-its-canadian-stores.html |title=Bench athletic wear is closing all of its Canadian Stores |website=Toronto Star |date=23 January 2020 |access-date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=26 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126161832/https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/01/23/bench-athletic-wear-is-closing-all-of-its-canadian-stores.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website}}
Category:Clothing companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom Category:Privately held companies of the United Kingdom Category:1989 establishments in the United Kingdom