History of Urban Outfitters in Timeline

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) is a global fashion retailer headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, targeting young adults. With operations in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, the company offers a diverse range of products including apparel, accessories, home goods, and music (mainly vinyl records and cassettes).

1970: Urban Outfitters Founded as "Free People"

Richard Hayne, Judy Wicks, and Scott Belair founded the retail store "Free People" in 1970 as a project for an entrepreneurship class at the University of Pennsylvania.

1976: "Free People" Renamed to "Urban Outfitters"

In 1976, "Free People" was renamed to "Urban Outfitters" and the company was incorporated.

2007: Urban Outfitters Receives National Preservation Honor Award

In 2007, Urban Outfitters received the National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their Corporate Office Campus located on the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

November 27, 2009: Urban Outfitters Accused of Union Busting in Sweden

On November 27, 2009, URBN, Urban Outfitters' parent company, made all 38 employees at their Stockholm store redundant and rehired them through an agency, a move interpreted as an attempt to deny collective bargaining rights. Swedish ombudsman Jimmy Ekman criticized the move and called for stricter laws.

2011: Urban Outfitters Partners to Sell Limited Edition Polaroid Cameras

Urban Outfitters partnered with Austrian entrepreneur Florian Kaps in 2011 to sell limited editions Polaroid ONE600 instant cameras and Type 779 instant film.

January 2013: Urban Outfitters Hires Lobbying Firm

In January 2013, Urban Outfitters hired Abraham & Roetzel, a lobbying firm led by former Republican Sen. Spencer Abraham, to advocate for retail industry policy in Washington, D.C.

2015: Urban Outfitters Acquires The Vetri Family Restaurant Group

Facing declining sales and foot traffic, Urban Outfitters acquired the Philadelphia restaurant group The Vetri Family in 2015. This acquisition, which included Amis Trattoria, Bar Amis, and Pizzeria Vetri, illustrated a shift in the retailer's strategy.

2019: Former Executive Sues Urban Outfitters for Discrimination

A former executive of Chinese descent with 40 years at the company sued Urban Outfitters in 2019, alleging ethnic and age-based discrimination.

2019: Urban Outfitters Launches Nuuly and Nuuly Thrift

In 2019, Urban Outfitters drew attention by selling used VHS tapes for $40. The same year, they launched Nuuly, a subscription clothing rental service, followed by Nuuly Thrift, a resale platform for buying and selling apparel and accessories.

2020: Urban Outfitters' Lack of Transparency

As of 2020, Urban Outfitters did not publicly disclose their clothing factories or provide evidence of ensuring living wages for employees.

2021: Urban Outfitters Receives Low Score on Fashion Transparency Index

In 2021, Urban Outfitters received a score of only 11-20% on the Fashion Transparency Index, reflecting a lack of transparency in their supply chain and labor practices.