What Is Guess Known For? Jeans, Ads and Ownership

Guess is an apparel and denim brand. Wikipedia does not describe it as a luxury label, so this guide sticks to its documented history.

History

The Moroccan-born designers Georges, Maurice, Armand and Paul Marciano founded Guess in 1981.

Known for

Black-and-white advertising from 1985, and jeans with form-fitting denim and ankle zippers. Claudia Schiffer posed for the 30th anniversary campaign in 2012.

Ownership

In August 2025, Authentic Brands, CEO Carlos Alberini, and Maurice and Paul Marciano agreed to buy 51 percent of Guess’s intellectual property for 1.4 billion dollars. The purchase completed in January 2026, and Guess went private and was delisted from the NYSE.

Details may change, so check the brand’s website.

To explore designer labels, visit the designers page, browse the brands page, or head to the shop.