KnitWell Group

KnitWell Group
FormerlyAscena Retail Group, Inc. (2011-2023)
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail (women's clothing)
PredecessorDressbarn
FoundedFebruary 13, 1962 (1962-02-13), in Stamford, Connecticut, United States
FoundersRoslyn Jaffe, Elliot Jaffe
HeadquartersMahwah, New Jersey, United States
Number of locations
2,764 (Feb. 2020)
Area served
United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico
Key people
Lizanne Kindler (CEO)
ProductsWomen's clothing products (district stores for young women and older women)
Revenue US$5.493 billion (2019)
US$-782 million (2019)
US$-661 million (2019)
Total assets US$ 2.7 billion (2019)
Total equity US$ 151 million (2019)
OwnerSycamore Partners
Number of employees
53,000 (Aug. 2019)
SubsidiariesAnn Taylor
Cacique
Catherines
Lane Bryant
Lou & Grey
LOFT
Justice
Talbots
Websitewww.ascena.com

KnitWell Group is an American retailer of women's clothing. KnitWell is the parent company of Ann Inc., operator of Ann Taylor and Loft stores, and the Lane Bryant, Justice, and Talbots clothing store brands. A portfolio company of Sycamore Partners, the company was formerly known as Ascena Retail Group, Inc. until it merged with Talbots, another Sycamore portfolio company, to become KnitWell Group.

Prior to the Sycamore acquisition, Chairman Emeritus Elliot Jaffe and his wife and co-founder, Roslyn, own about 25% of the company.