In 1991, Luke and Sarah Davis founded BUCKLE with the purpose of providing fashion-conscious men and women with high-quality apparel at affordable prices. From the beginning, they had great success, but the road to success was anything but straightforward or easy. Luke and Sarah went through several name changes and business strategies before arriving at what would become their trademark—great style at low prices. Over 25 years later, this formula has made them one of the most successful brands in the clothing industry today. Let’s take a look back at how this iconic company got started.
The Early Days: Pre-Buckle
Buckle was founded in the early 1990s by a group of friends from high school who wanted to create a new and improved belt company. The founders created Buckle with the goal of providing high-quality belts at low prices for men, women and children. Buckles first store opened in 1997, but it wasn’t until 1999 when things really started happening for the company. At that time, there were only four stores in existence – but soon after, more opened up all over California.
The 1970s: The First Decade
Buckle was originally a brand that manufactured belts. The company began in the 1970s and quickly transformed into a company that sold shoes, clothes, and accessories. They realized early on that their products could be worn with everything from jeans and a t-shirt to suits for work.
Buckle soon became one of America’s leading fashion brands and experienced global success
By the 1990s, they were known as America’s shoe company
The 1980s: The Second Decade
When I first started my company, I had no idea what I was doing. But as the years went by, we continued to grow and innovate. In the 1980s, we launched our first jeans line and would go on to introduce one of the industry’s first mobile stores. My focus was always on how best to serve our customers with an experience that was both convenient and satisfying. We became known for a brand that would stand for quality in all aspects: from design and construction, to customer service and satisfaction.
The 1990s: The Third Decade
In the 90s, BUCKLE was a company that made belts and other leather accessories. But they wanted to do more than just make stylish belts. They wanted to make fashionable clothes with the same quality and durability as their belts. They expanded their product line in 1994 with a new line of jeans, but it took them until 1997 when they added shirts and ties before they had a complete wardrobe.
The 2000s: The Fourth Decade
In the 2000s, all we wanted were pieces that would go with everything. We wanted a basic tee that wouldn’t fade or shrink in the wash. We wanted jeans that wouldn’t stretch out at the waist after a few wears. And we wanted jeans that didn’t cost an arm and a leg, but still looked good enough for us to want to wear them every day.
Buckle found success by listening closely and identifying what people wanted from their clothing and adapting accordingly.
The 2010s: The Fifth Decade
A decade can seem like a long time ago, but it’s not. Not for the fashion industry. In 2010, when the decade was just beginning, you could barely find a cute dress on sale at your local mall. Fast-forward six years later, and the fashion industry has changed drastically. What was once dark and drab is now bright and colorful; what was once reserved is now bold and adventurous; what used to be ordinary is now extraordinary!
