J. Crew

The crews depicted in the polished catalogs of the J. Crew Group are far from motley. The retailer is known for its preppy fashions, including jeans, khakis, and other basic (but pricey) items sold to young professionals through its catalogs, websites, and some 335 retail and factory stores in the US under the J. Crew, crewcuts (for kids), and Madewell banners. Madewell is a women's-only collection of hip, casual clothes. CEO Millard "Mickey" Drexler, recruited in 2003 from The Gap to revive J. Crew's ailing fortunes, has led a renaissance at the firm, marked by a public offering in 2006. Five years later, the retailer was taken private by TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners.