HISTORY OF BRIGHTON
The Brighton brand was launched in 1991 with a single collection of belts. But over the years, Brighton has become an accessories company with something for everyone. Handbags were added to the line in 1993, followed by small leather goods, watches, footwear, fragrance, jewelry, home accessories and eyewear. The collection also includes men's belts, wallets, watches and other leather accessories.
Today Brighton is the only major accessories line featuring products that coordinate from head to toe. A customer might choose a lipstick case that matches a wallet, earrings that match a pair of sunglasses, a handbag that matches footwear, or an entire coordinating collection consisting of multiple accessories. Each piece in the Brighton collection is a unique original design. The company's design team travels the world seeking new leathers and inspiration for the products' one-of-a-kind ornamentation.
Brighton products are available in nearly 6,000 specialty stores nationwide and approximately 150 all-Brighton stores from coast to coast. In keeping with owner and president Jerry Kohl's philosophy to do business only with stores that offer excellent customer service, Brighton products are not sold in department stores or on the Internet.
Brighton is a division of Leegin Creative Leather Products based in City of Industry, CA. For more than 30 years, Leegin has been manufacturing belts and other leather accessories at a California factory that has expanded from a shop with five employees to a technologically advanced plant employing more than 600 people. Components for some of the products are manufactured internationally in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
HISTORY OF BRIGHTON COLLECTIONS BY ANGELA
Brighton Collections by Angela was a new concept store for Angela and Craig Pettitt. Angela and Craig founded an upscale western lifestyle store called Out West. Out West opened in Fashion Valley Mall in 1994 and operated through February 1999.
Out West began as a traditional upscale western lifestyle store. Carrying boots, apparel, furniture, home furnishings and more. After four years of operation, Angela and Craig recognized that BRIGHTON was far exceeding any other category.
Angela and Craig approached the Brighton folks in early 1999 on the idea of opening a Brighton only boutique and were approved as only the second licensee in the world to have Brighton in their name. The first official Brighton boutique opened in the Dallas Galleria in fall 1998 and was called; Brighton Collectibles by Brenda. Out West opened Brighton Collections by Angela in North County Fair, in Escondido in May 1999. Our new location (within North County Fair) and name is Brighton Collectibles.
HISTORY OF BRIGHTON COLLECTIBLES
In late 1999, Jerry Kohl, the owner of Brighton, recognized the national appeal for Brighton by the consumer and by mall developers. In addition to the few existing licensees, he opened his first (company owned) store in Sherman Oaks, Ca. The company now has over 150 stores nationwide with plans for 10-20 more each year. In addition, Brighton Licensees have over 30 stores combined. Angela and Craig have six Brighton Collectibles stores: Southern California: Escondido, Temecula, Riverside, Palm Desert and El Cajon. Denver: Cherry Creek Mall.
