OUR ROOTS

“My passion for the American lifestyle goes back to my youth. During school holidays, I regularly travelled to the States with my family. Our starting point was the bustling heart of New York, where Casual Friday was causing a revolution in the dress code. From there we went north, in the direction of Boston. The magnificent wild nature of Maine was an invitation to outdoor living. It was also the beginning of a tale of friendship, family, and shear joy of living that would echo around the world.”

 

AN INSPIRING ERA

The wind blows through the lush crowns of the majestic oak trees of North America. This is the era of true friendship and strong values, this is the era of the origins of River Woods. North American inspired authentic sportswear which embraces family, solidarity and the shear joy of living.

 

1995 - THE BIRTH OF RIVER WOODS

Four friends share a dream and decide, after years of experience in the fashion industry, to combine their unique talents. River Woods saw the light of day on 6 December 1995.

 

FIRST MENSWEAR COLLECTION

Exactly one month later, on January 6, River Woods launches its first men’s collection. The response is incredible. After Belgium, River Woods also conquers France and the Netherlands.

 

NEW COLLECTIONS

Inspired by the runaway success of the first men’s collection, River Woods launches a full women's collection, as well as a children’s collection.

 

2000 - NEW CENTURY, NEW MILESTONES

This year the first River Woods Flagship store opened in Wijnegem Shopping Center, in Belgium.  

An industrial building in the Ghent area will be the new home of River Woods. The building is submitted to a thorough metamorphosis with an eye for detail and completely in harmony with the brandguide. A first step to European expansion is a partnership of River Woods with a major distributor in Portugal and Spain.

 

MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS: THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

The distribution network expands with the opening of exclusive River Woods stores and the presence of River Woods in high-end multi-label stores across Europe.

 

NEW AGREEMENTS

River Woods signs licensing agreements for a River Woods footwear and glasses collection. Recently, a licensing agreement for a bath collection followed.

 

GLOBAL EXPANSION: RIVER WOODS' NETWORK

River Woods has rolled out a solid distribution network across Europe and is ready for the next step: expansion beyond the continent.  

 

FIRST RW KIDS STORE: NEW OPENING

On the 23rd of January 2011, River Woods opens its first dedicated Kids store, at Wijnegem Shopping Center in Belgium.

 

RW CASUAL CHIC: NEW OPENING

On the 29th of July 2011, a second River Woods Casual Chic store opens its doors in Knokke, Belgium. It offers exclusively the contemporary River Woods Women collection and is an immediate hit.

After that, many shops open the doors in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France, leading to our current distribution network.


What started in 1995 as a collection of T-shirts has grown into an upscale lifestyle label with an international allure. River Woods tells a universal tale of friendship, family, and shear joy of living. The unique mix of American sportswear with European elegance defines a casual chic style that has a worldwide appeal today. High quality materials and excellent workmanship are a common thread in the diverse collections for men, women and children. Accessories and licenses (such as River Woods footwear collection, River Woods glasses, River Woods bath collection) complete the spectrum. A consistent distribution policy, premium pricing and thorough quality controls have led to a brand positionning in the higher segment.

 

UNITED WE STAND

The success of River Woods is the result of teamwork. With more than 400 employees, we are one big family. Communication lines are short and transparent, which allows us to respond quickly to new developments. Empathy, friendship and mutual respect define our corporate culture.

 

QUALITY AND DETAIL

River Woods has grown into an international premium brand thanks to the consistent use of quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. Our motto: ‘Small details make a world of difference.’

 

OUR STORES

The international expansion of our portfolio has turned River Woods into a strong player in retail. More than 50 exclusive River Woods Company stores divided over Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France reflect our excellent service and high-quality standards. In addition, River Woods has also developed an outlet concept where collections from previous seasons can be found.

A strong visual merchandising concept carries our values and brand image over to our clients. The internal decoration team travels the world to to consistently translate the brand signature into innovative store concepts.  

 

HIGH END MULTI-LABEL STORES & DEPARTMENT STORES

An expansive network of more than 1000 points of sale are supported at all levels. Strong selection criteria and an excellent profiling process guarantees that our distribution channels reflect the quality brand image of River Woods.