Wilsons Leather
American leather-apparel and accessories retailer known for leather jackets, outerwear, bags, footwear, belts, and gloves.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wilsons Leather is an American leather-apparel and accessories retail brand whose roots extend to two earlier businesses: Berman Buckskin, originally founded in 1899 as Berman Brothers Fur, Wool and Hides, and Wilsons House of Suede, established by Jerry Wilson in Beverly Hills in the late 1950s. The businesses developed different but complementary identities. The Berman enterprise moved from fur, wool, and hides toward fringed buckskin shirts and jackets after the Second World War, while Wilsons House of Suede became associated with more fashion-oriented suede and leather styles. Jerry Wilson’s sons Tony, Jeffrey, and Brian Wilson assumed control of the Wilsons business in 1964. In 1970, the brothers appeared in television commercials for the company, helping make Wilsons one of the early clothing retailers to use television advertising prominently. The business broadened its reach in the 1970s as it shifted manufacturing overseas, allowing it to offer leather apparel at prices accessible to a substantially larger customer base. Stores expanded into regional shopping centers across the United States. Melville Corporation acquired Wilsons House of Suede and Leather in 1982. After Melville bought Bermans from W. R. Grace and Company, it combined the two operations under the Wilsons Leather name in the summer of 1986. Melville subsequently added Georgetown Leather Design to the division in 1993. In 1996, Wilsons was sold to a management-led investor group, creating an independent retail company that pursued a public offering. The company filed plans in 1996 to raise $42 million, but its May 1997 initial public offering proceeded with a reduced target of $10 million. At its peak, Wilsons operated a large national store network. The company had 763 stores in 46 states and Canada in 2002, and its stores carried both Wilsons merchandise and selected products from outside fashion labels, including DKNY, Michael Kors, Guess?, and Cole Haan. The company launched an online store in 1999 and attempted to broaden its business beyond leather apparel by acquiring travel-oriented retailers and assets, including El Portal, Bentley’s Luggage, and California Luggage Outlet. The resulting travel-store operation reached 135 locations but was closed in late 2002 after repeated losses. During the 2000s, Wilsons undertook a sustained retrenchment. It narrowed its product assortment, closed underperforming locations, reduced its workforce, and repeatedly lowered its store count. The chain fell from 763 stores in November 2002 to 598 at the beginning of 2004, 453 by October 2004, 428 by December 2005, and 411 by October 2007. In February 2008, the company announced the closure of 160 additional stores; by May of that year it operated 228 stores in 39 states. In July 2008, the Wilsons brand name, online store, and 116 outlet stores were sold to G-III Apparel Group. The former corporate entity changed its name to PreVu Inc.; it was delisted from NASDAQ in August 2008 and subsequently announced plans to liquidate its remaining mall stores. Later ownership and operating arrangements involved AM Retail Group and GH Bass-related retail operations, while G-III retained the Wilsons brand assets. In 2020, G-III announced a reorganization that included closing 110 directly managed Wilsons Leather stores. The brand continued its online business, reflecting its transition from a broad mall-based chain toward a more limited and digitally supported retail presence.
History
Wilsons Leather developed from the combination of two leather-related apparel retailers. Berman Buckskin traced its origins to 1899, when David, Ephraim, and Alexander Berman founded Berman Brothers Fur, Wool and Hides. After World War II, the business repositioned itself around fringed buckskin shirts and jackets. The second predecessor, Wilsons House of Suede, was founded by Jerry Wilson in Beverly Hills in the late 1950s and became known for fashion-oriented suede and leather merchandise. Jerry Wilson’s sons Tony, Jeffrey, and Brian took over the Wilsons business in 1964. In 1970, the brothers appeared in the company’s television commercials, making Wilsons one of the early clothing retailers to use television advertising as a major promotional channel. In 1975, the company began having products manufactured overseas, lowering prices and supporting expansion into regional shopping centers across the United States. Melville Corporation acquired Wilsons House of Suede and Leather in 1982. Following its acquisition of Bermans from W. R. Grace and Company, Melville merged the two retailers under the Wilsons Leather name in the summer of 1986. Melville added Georgetown Leather Design to the division in 1993. The business was sold to a management-led investor group in 1996. Wilsons filed plans for an initial public offering in October of that year, initially targeting $42 million, but completed a smaller offering in May 1997 with a $10 million target. The independent company expanded its store base and product scope during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It launched an online store in 1999 and acquired travel-related retail operations, including El Portal, Bentley’s Luggage, and California Luggage Outlet. The travel division reached 135 stores but was closed in late 2002 after several quarters of losses. At its 2002 peak, Wilsons had 763 stores in 46 states and Canada. Its stores sold leather jackets, belts, shoes, handbags, and gloves, while also carrying merchandise from labels such as DKNY, Michael Kors, Guess?, and Cole Haan. The company then entered a prolonged contraction. In 2003 it reduced its assortment and closed underperforming stores. In 2004 it laid off approximately 1,000 employees and closed nearly 100 locations. Store count declined from 598 at the beginning of 2004 to 453 in October of that year and 428 by December 2005. Further closures reduced the chain to 411 stores by October 2007. In February 2008, Wilsons announced the closure of 160 stores, leaving 228 locations in 39 states by May. In July 2008, G-III Apparel Group acquired the Wilsons name, online store, and 116 outlet stores. The former corporate company changed its name to PreVu Inc., was delisted from NASDAQ on August 4, 2008, and announced on August 14 that it would liquidate its remaining mall stores. Subsequent retail arrangements involved AM Retail Group and GH Bass-related operations, while G-III remained associated with the Wilsons brand. In 2020, G-III announced the closure of 110 directly managed Wilsons Leather stores as part of a reorganization. The brand continued online, marking a shift away from its former nationwide mall-store scale.
- 2020
Directly managed stores are closed
[1]G-III announces the closure of 110 directly managed Wilsons Leather stores while retaining online operations.
- 2008
Brand assets are sold to G-III Apparel Group
[1]G-III acquires the Wilsons brand, online store, and 116 outlet locations.
- 2002
Store network reaches its reported peak
[1]The retailer reaches 763 stores in 46 states and Canada before closing its loss-making travel-store operation later that year.
- 1999
Online store launches
[1]Wilsons launches online retail and begins broadening into travel-related merchandise.
- 1997
Wilsons completes a reduced initial public offering
[1]After filing plans for a larger offering in 1996, Wilsons goes public with a reduced $10 million target.
- 1996
Wilsons becomes independent
[1]Melville sells Wilsons to a management-led investor group.
- 1993
Georgetown Leather Design joins the division
[1]Melville adds Georgetown Leather Design to its Wilsons-related operations.
- 1986
Berman and Wilsons operations merge
[1]Melville combines Bermans and Wilsons under the Wilsons Leather name.
- 1982
Melville acquires Wilsons
[1]Melville Corporation acquires Wilsons House of Suede and Leather.
- 1975
Overseas manufacturing begins
[1]Wilsons begins sourcing products from overseas manufacturers, supporting lower prices and wider distribution.
Products and positioning
Accessible leather and suede apparel and accessories sold through specialty stores, outlet locations, and online retail, with a historical emphasis on fashion-oriented outerwear and nationally distributed value.
Leather apparel
Leather jackets and coats
Leather jackets and coats were the core of Wilsons Leather’s identity and the principal category associated with its specialty-store and outlet businesses. The assortment covered everyday outerwear as well as more fashion-oriented styles, building on the company’s earlier suede and buckskin heritage. During its expansion, Wilsons used overseas manufacturing to make leather apparel available to a broader value-conscious customer base.
Leather apparel
Suede apparel
Suede garments connect the brand to Wilsons House of Suede, the Beverly Hills predecessor founded by Jerry Wilson. The historic assortment emphasized high-fashion suede and leather styles, while the broader Wilsons business later incorporated suede jackets and related outerwear into a nationally distributed product range.
Accessories
Leather accessories
Wilsons stores sold complementary leather accessories including belts, handbags, gloves, and shoes. These categories extended the brand beyond outerwear and supported a complete leather-lifestyle assortment in mall, regional shopping-center, outlet, and online channels.
Travel accessories · 1999
Luggage and travel goods
Following its 1999 online expansion, Wilsons broadened into luggage and travel items through acquisitions involving El Portal, Bentley’s Luggage, and California Luggage Outlet. The company operated 135 travel stores, but the division was closed in late 2002 after several quarters of losses.
Marketing campaigns
- 1970Wilson brothers television commercials
United States
Tony, Jeffrey, and Brian Wilson appeared in television commercials for the family business. The campaign helped establish Wilsons as an early clothing retailer to use television advertising prominently.
Outcome. The commercials increased the visibility of the Wilson brothers and supported the brand’s expansion beyond its original store.
Brand decisions
2020
Closure of directly managed storesStrategyBackground
G-III undertook a reorganization affecting the physical retail footprint of Wilsons Leather.
Action taken
G-III announced the closure of 110 stores directly managed by Wilsons Leather.
Aftermath
The brand continued its online business, leaving digital commerce as an important remaining channel.
2008
Sale of the Wilsons brand to G-III Apparel GroupM&ABackground
After years of store closures and declining scale, the company separated its brand assets from the former publicly traded corporate entity.
Action taken
G-III Apparel Group acquired the Wilsons brand name, online store, and 116 outlet stores.
Aftermath
The former company changed its name to PreVu Inc., was delisted from NASDAQ, and moved toward liquidation of its remaining mall stores.
2003
Retail retrenchmentStrategyBackground
Wilsons faced an extended period of operational pressure after its large-store expansion and unsuccessful travel diversification.
Action taken
The company reduced its product offerings and closed several dozen underperforming stores.
Aftermath
Further closures and workforce reductions followed in 2004 and subsequent years.
1999
Launch of online retail and travel expansionStrategyBackground
The company was extending its retail model beyond physical leather-apparel stores.
Action taken
Wilsons launched an online store and acquired travel-oriented businesses and assets, including El Portal, Bentley’s Luggage, and California Luggage Outlet.
Aftermath
The travel operation reached 135 stores but was closed in late 2002 after several quarters of losses.
1975
Shift to overseas manufacturingStrategyBackground
Wilsons sought to make leather products affordable to a substantially larger customer base while expanding its store footprint.
Action taken
The company began having products manufactured overseas and used the resulting cost structure to support broader retail distribution.
Aftermath
Wilsons expanded into regional shopping centers throughout the country and developed a larger national retail presence.
Recent events
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