What was the original name of the Forever 21 chain?

The original name of the Forever 21 chain was Fashion 21.

Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang founded the business in Los Angeles on April 16, 1984. Their first shop occupied about 900 square feet in Highland Park, a Los Angeles neighborhood with a large Korean American community. The couple used roughly $11,000 in savings and initially sold inexpensive clothing bought from wholesale closeouts.

The Changs later changed the name from Fashion 21 to Forever 21 as the company expanded beyond its original customer base. The new name reflected the brand’s focus on youthful fashion and became central to its identity as a fast-fashion retailer.

A common mix-up is assuming the chain began as Forever 21 because that is the name on nearly all surviving stores. The original Los Angeles location reportedly retained the Fashion 21 name for many years, making it a historical reminder of the brand’s earlier identity.