Fragrance house

Esprit

Founded in California in 1968 by Susie and Doug Tompkins, Esprit began with the founders selling dresses from the back of their car. The company adopted the name Esprit de Corp, later shortened to Esprit, and introduced the logo designed by John Casado in 1979. Its philosophy emphasizes authenticity, solidarity, and colorful joie de vivre, guided by the aim of making people feel good to look good. In the 1980s, the Real People Campaign used Esprit employees rather than professional models, giving the brand a distinctive human-centered creative expression. Michael Ying, previously the company’s chief sourcing agent, bought Esprit from the Tompkinses in 1989; under his ownership, the business expanded into a global fashion company and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1993. Following insolvency proceedings involving subsidiaries in the United States, Hong Kong, and Europe, Esprit’s 2024 annual report recorded a transition away from asset-heavy retail, wholesale, and e-commerce operations toward a licensing-focused model.