Stephen, John

(1934-2004) John Stephen opened his first Carnaby Street shop in 1957 after having worked at Vince Man’s Shop. From the beginning he offered men clothes that were colorful and made from unusual fabrics. He began to attract the attention of several rising rock singers, and his reputation for cool began to spread. Stephen owned three additional Carnaby Street shops by 1962, and by 1963 he had eighteen shops across London and was planning stores in the US. By 1966, at the height of Carnaby Street’s popularity, Stephens also owned two boutiques that carried womens clothing.

By the early 1970s Stephen went wholesale, manufacturing clothing that was sold worldwide. In 1972, John Stephen’s company went public, and siting poor health, Stephen resigned from the company in 1976. One year later, the label was bought by the parent company of Lord John, ironically one of John Stephen’s chief competitors in the early Carnaby Street days.

Written by fuzzylizzie

from a late 1960s psychedelic mob cap

Courtesy of emmapeelpants

from a late 1960s/early 1970s dress

Courtesy of emmapeelpants