{{Short description|American clothing line}} {{Infobox company | name = William Rast | logo = William Rast.png | logo_size = 230px | industry = Clothing | foundation = {{Start date and age|2005}} | location = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | founder = Justin Timberlake<BR>Trace Ayala | owner = Yehuda Shmidman | products = Clothing | homepage = {{URL|https://williamrast.com/}} }} [[Image:William Rast fashion show for New York Fashion Week.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A William Rast model walking down the catwalk at the 2009 New York Fashion Week]]
'''William Rast''' is an American clothing line. It was founded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala in 2005 and is currently owned by Yehuda Shmidman.
The name "William Rast" is a combination of Timberlake's grandfather's first name and Ayala's grandfather's last name.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/justin-timberlake-clothing-line-william-rast-returns-7581289/ | title=Justin Timberlake's Clothing Line William Rast Is Back | first=Stephanie | last=Chan | magazine=Billboard | date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>
The brand has had partnerships with designers such as Johan and Marcella Lindeberg<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://wwd.com/feature/new-friends-timberlake-lindebergs-link-up-for-william-rast-475032-2053000/ | title=New Friends: Timberlake, Lindebergs Link Up for William Rast | first=Julee | last=Greenberg Kaplan | work=Women's Wear Daily | date=November 30, 2007}}</ref> as well as retailers such as Target.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/timberlake-fashion-line-partners-with-target-1203059/ | title=Timberlake Fashion Line Partners With Target | agency=Associated Press | magazine=Billboard | date=July 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2010/11/target-to-offer-exclusive | title=Target to Offer Exclusive Limited-Edition Collection by William Rast | publisher=Target Corporation | date=November 20, 2010}}</ref><Ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.staugustine.com/story/lifestyle/2010/12/25/designer-william-rast-has-collection-target/16215486007/ | title=Designer William Rast has collection for Target | first=ADAM | last=TSCHORN | work=The St. Augustine Record | date=December 24, 2010}}</ref>
==History== William Rast was founded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala in 2005 as a denim line.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/justin-timberlake-william-rast-jeans | title=REMEMBER WILLIAM RAST, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S DISAPPOINTING DENIM LINE? | first=Joseph | last=Longo | work=MEL Magazine | date=February 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/7503418/justin-timberlake-william-rast-video | title=Justin Timberlake Discusses Tennessee Roots in New William Rast Promo Video | last=Saunders | first=Nicole | magazine=Billboard | date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>
William Rast sponsored the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport / Curb-Agajanian Performance Group IndyCar of Dan Wheldon which won the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Wheldon died in a crash in October 2011.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/269745/dan-wheldon-race-driver-for-justin-timberlake-s-clothing-line-killed-during-indy-300-crash | title=Dan Wheldon, Race Driver for Justin Timberlake's Clothing Line, Killed During Indy 300 Crash | first=TIERNEY | last=BRICKER | work=E! | date=October 16, 2011}}</ref>
In November 2021, as part of a bankruptcy, WHP Global, owned by Yehuda Shmidman, acquired the company.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://sourcingjournal.com/denim/denim-business/william-rast-joes-jeans-whp-centric-sequential-yehuda-shmidman-jessica-simpson-311991/ | title=WILLIAM RAST, JOE'S JEANS HEADED TO NEW OWNERS | first=Vicki M. | last=Young | work=Penske Media Corporation | date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.williamrast.com/}}
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 Category:Jeans Category:Justin Timberlake