Lucky Brand is an American denim company founded in Vernon, California, in 1990 by Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman.[1] Lucky also produces other apparel, including activewear, outerwear, T-shirts, and professional attire.
In 2020, Lucky Brand filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by SPARC Group, which merged with JCPenney to form Catalyst Brands in 2025.[2]
History
In the 1970s, 21-year-old Jamal H Nathan along with 17-year-old Barry Perlman opened a Florida jeans shop called Four Way Street. "During the evenings, we'd head out to the local Laundromat with our pockets full of coins and some bleach. A few hours later, we had a stack of great washed jeans -- one of a kind and 100% authentic!"[3]
In 1978, Montesano moved to Los Angeles to enter the fashion industry there. With business partner Michael Caruso, he started Bongo and ran the brand for 15 years.