Urban Planet
 Urban Planet at Kingsway Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Number of locations | 100+ |
| Products | Men's and women's clothing, jeans, shoes, and fashion accessories. |
| Parent | YM Inc. |
| Subsidiaries | Urban Behavior |
| Website | https://urban-planet.com/ |
Urban Planet, also known as Urban Behavior, is a unisex apparel retailer in Canada with a focus on clothes for young adults and teenagers.[1][2] A fast fashion chain, it has been acquired by YM Inc.
The store is mostly popular with people trying to keep up with today's fashion trends. Urban Planet targets teenage to young adult consumers with focus on affordability.[3] It has over 100 locations across Canada.[4][5]
History
[edit]
Urban Planet and Urban Behavior have stores located all across Canada, the Eastern United States, and formerly the Middle East. All mall-based stores operate as unisex locations. The outlet locations in Toronto were divided along male and female clothing lines.[6][7][8]
In July 2008, CMT America Corporation, Urban Behavior's corporate parent in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Many of the US stores have subsequently been closed. The company has maintained its Canadian stores and continues a wholesale presence in the United States.[9] In June 2011, CMT Canada, Urban Behavior's corporate parent, filed a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal (“NOI”) pursuant to the provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”). The NOI is a restructuring process and did not proceed to a liquidation or bankruptcy of the retailer. Approximately 24 of the existing 120 store locations across Canada were planned to be closed by August 31.[10] Urban Planet opened a store in New York in 2017.[11][12][13]
YM Inc. acquired Urban Behaviour in 2011 and had previously acquired Urban Planet years earlier. Urban Behavior was founded in 1989 by Arif Noor.[14] It is now a sub-brand of Urban Planet, with 22 stores in Canada as of February 2021.[15] Following the closure of Forever 21 stores in Canada, Urban Planet carries Forever 21 clothing items inside their stores and online.[16] Urban Planet also carries children clothes under the Urban Kids banner, and accessories.[17]
The chain has had controversies in the past. In 2016, the store was under fire for firing an employee after she had an allergic reaction on the job.[18] In 2019, Urban Planet apologized after a racially insensitive word was used on merchandise.[19][20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Urban Behaviour is style..." Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ The Internet Fashion Database Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved and verified on 2011-05-29
- ^ "Company website". Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- ^ "YM Inc. Fashion House". YM Inc. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Urban Behaviour | Square One Shopping Centre". Square One. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Porpora, Tracey (July 31, 2017). "Urban Planet now open in the Staten Island Mall". silive. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Yarr, Kevin (January 19, 2017). "Urban Planet opening at Charlottetown Mall". cbc.ca. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Grech, Ron (January 15, 2013). "Urban Planet fills Zellers void". timminspress.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Toxic Economy Shutters More Stores
- ^ December 15, 2011 hearing
- ^ "A Toronto Urban Planet Is Having A Massive Liquidation Sale". StyleDemocracy. January 14, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Urban Planet is coming back to North Bay". BayToday.ca. May 24, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Carter, John (January 4, 2019). "'Very sad': Urban Planet to close as Mark's taking over Renfrew location". InsideOttawaValley.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "YM Inc. Fashion House". Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "Urban Planet x Forever 21|Find A Store". Urban Planet. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Forever 21 just relaunched in Canada but people are already unimpressed". www.blogto.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Forever 21 Returning To Canada - Retail & Leisure International". April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Biber, Francois (June 24, 2016). "Urban Planet CEO apologizes to woman fired after an allergic reaction". CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "'This word is our N-word': Indigenous teacher asks Urban Planet to drop racial slur". CBC/Radio-Canada. October 2, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Urban Planet responds to request for removal of racial slur". CBC/Radio-Canada. October 4, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2025.