St John was founded in 1962 by Robert and Marie Gray. A knitting machine inspired Marie, then a young fashion model, to design simple knit dresses. Her entrepreneur husband, Robert Gray, recognized the strong business potential and began taking orders from specialty retailers. The brand found instant success among customers who appreciated the elegant, versatile knits.
Over the years St John continued to expand, increasing both factory space and distribution. The company took a major step forward in 1970 with national distribution in Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
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