At 35 years old, fast fashion retailer Forever 21 has already had quite the life. There's been a name change, some controversy, celebrity fans, and hundreds of locations, all of which doesn't even begin to tell its full — and fascinating! — story.
Considering this one-stop shop is a store we'll never quit, it's about time we got to know it a little better. Read on for 21 facts you never knew about Forever 21, then check out more tidbits about another fashion favorite, ASOS.
It was located in the Highland Park district of Los Angeles and was only 900 square feet.
In its first year, Fashion 21 generated $700,000 in sales. The name was later changed to Forever 21.
Currently, it's the most searched fashion brand under "Fashion."
It was founded by Do “Don” Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook Chang, who had moved to the United States from South Korea. Their daughters began working for the company in 2009, leading the marketing and visuals teams.
A nod to their religion can be spotted on the bottom of every shopping bag, where it says John 3:16, a verse in the Christian Bible.
According to Forbes, the couple's net worth is currently $4.4 billion.
In the About Us section on Forever 21's website, it states that "Forever 21 is not about a particular age, it’s for anyone who wants to be trendy, fresh and young in spirit."
It was originally called "Faith 21" (another religious nod), but now it's call Forever 21+.
There's also 21MEN, Forever 21 Girls, and Love & Beauty, the brand's cosmetics line.
It has three levels and stays open until 2 a.m.
There's a whole section dedicated to the brands it loves, which include Motel, Frends, Dolce Vita, Baggu, Ban.Do, and more.
And later named her daughter Tiev Forever Golding.
Including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Emily Ratajkowski, Taylor Hill, Ashley Graham, Anja Rubik, Candice Huffine, Chanel Iman, and Devon Windsor.
"Forever 21, they booked me directly when I was much younger," Chrissy revealed in a 2014 interview with DuJour magazine. "And I showed up on set, and they asked me if they could take a photo. And they shoot that photo off to my agency, who then calls me as I'm sitting in the makeup chair. And they say, 'You need to leave right now. They just said you are fat, and you need to come get your measurements taken.'"
Stars such as Zendaya, Taylor Swift, Kate Mara, Diane Kruger, and Vanessa Hudgens have been spotted wearing pieces from the store. Alexandra Daddario even wore a Forever 21 dress on the red carpet!
Designers, artists, and even H&M have accused Forever 21 of copying their designs.
It wasn't affiliated with the company but showcased some of the best items sold at the store, along with a description of why they were so great.
There are also plans to open 600 stores in the next three years. That's a lot of shopping!