Ascena Retail Group

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (formerly Dress Barn and doing business as Dressbarn) is an American retailer of women's clothing.

History and operations

The first Dress Barn was opened in 1962 in Stamford, Connecticut, by Roslyn Jaffe. Jaffe saw the opportunity to provide wear-to-work dresses and clothing for the working woman during a time in the U.S. when women were entering the workforce and there were few options.

The company began trading on NASDAQ (symbol DBRN) in 1982. In January 2011, to reflect the company's broader holdings, the company was reorganized as a Delaware corporation named Ascena Retail Group, Inc. At this time the NASDAQ symbol was also changed to ASNA.

Ascena also owns the Maurices, Justice, Lane Bryant, and Catherines clothing store brands. The Dress Barn brand targets women ages 35–50. Dress Barn, Dress Barn Woman (larger sizes), and combination stores sell in-season women's apparel and accessories at value prices and cater to professional women. Chairman Elliot Jaffe and his wife and co-founder, Roslyn, own about 25% of Ascena.