North OC Times

St. John Knits International Inc., a prominent women's fashion house, has relocated its global brand headquarters to Anaheim Canyon. The move from Irvine took place in early January and marks a significant milestone for both the company and the business district.

The fashion brand now operates out of an 85,000-square-foot facility on La Palma Avenue near Imperial Highway. This new location includes offices, design space, an atelier, and a warehouse. Approximately 120 employees are based in Anaheim, working across various roles such as executive, wholesale, design, craftspeople, administrative, and fulfillment.

Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken commented on the development: “The story of St. John Knits is the story of so many great Anaheim businesses. It is a story of a vision starting small and growing into a global brand. Having St. John here adds to Anaheim’s prestige and builds on our creative economy.”

St. John Knits is part of China's Lanvin Group Holdings Ltd., joining over 3,000 businesses in Anaheim Canyon with around 40,000 employees in sectors ranging from technology to consumer products.

Renowned for its elegant knitwear suits and dresses for women, St. John's products are available at major retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus as well as their own boutiques located in Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, and Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

Founded by Robert and Marie Gray in 1962 from their garage in North Hollywood, the company was named after Marie's maiden name "St. John." Marie Gray's original knit dress became popular quickly among friends before expanding into department stores through Robert's sales efforts.

Though no longer involved with the company directly, the Grays have left a lasting legacy at St. John Knits which continues to be influential within the apparel industry alongside other local companies like Pacific Sunwear of California LLC.