Industry Apparel Founded 1900 | Founder Sam Schwab Type of business Private corporation | |
Products Clothing for infants and toddlers Headquarters Cumberland, Maryland, United States | ||
S. Schwab Company was an apparel design and marketing company specializing in high-end clothing for infants and toddlers. The company was known for its "Little Me" branded clothing line sold in many large department stores such as Macy's, Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor.
History
S. Schwab Company was started by Sam Schwab who immigrated to the US from France in the early 1900s to New York. Schwab later started a clothing manufacturing business in the city of Cumberland, Maryland selling imported shawls, sweaters and other garments that were further enhanced in Cumberland using hand embroidery technique famous in Alsace, France. After World War II, Schwab's father and uncle joined the business and the company invested in a full-fledged manufacturing operation in the city.
In 1984, the company transitioned away from local manufacturing toward product development, marketing, and branding.
In 1995, S. Schwab Company acquired a license to produce the Ralph Lauren infants and toddlers clothing line.
In 1999, Ralph Lauren awarded the entire children's wear license for boys' and girls' apparel to the S. Schwab Company for both the United States and many other countries around the world.
In 2004, Ralph Lauren bought the license back from S. Schwab Co. for approximately $230 million, plus approximately $20 million in "contingent and deferred payments".
On Oct 31, 2007, S.Schwab Company sold the assets of its Little Me children's wear wholesale business to Mamiye Brothers, Inc. The sale includes the Little Me trademark and all assets related of the wholesale business. In addition, all 37 of the 'Little Me outlet and specialty stores' were liquidated by Great American Group.