The Guess clothing brand was founded in Los Angeles in 1981.
Brothers Georges, Armand, Paul and Maurice Marciano established Guess after leaving France and moving to California. The company initially became known for fitted, stonewashed denim and a distinctive fashion-advertising style.
Guess helped make designer denim a prominent part of 1980s fashion. Its early products combined Western-inspired details with a more fashion-oriented cut than traditional work jeans.
The founding date is sometimes confused with the launch dates of Guess accessories, fragrances or separate sub-brands. The company itself began in 1981, while its famous advertising campaigns and later product categories developed afterward.