Guess Inc.’s Marciano Family Goes Big on Spencer Pratt’s Mayoral Campaign

Multiple members of the Los Angeles denim firm’s founding family donated the maximum to the mayoral hopeful. 
Guess Jeans has opened its West Hollywood flagship and first U.S. location on Melrose Avenue
Guess Jeans at 8700 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. PHOTO BY JOSH CHO FOR GUESS JEANS.

The founding family behind Los Angeles denim maker Guess Inc. have gone all in on Spencer Pratt. 

Multiple members of the Marciano family contributed to the former reality TV star’s mayoral campaign this week, according to records filed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. 

The closely watched race includes a playing field of 14 hopefuls, including incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Wednesday evening was the most recent debate, pitting frontrunners Bass, Fourth District Councilmember Nithya Raman and Pratt. It was the first time Pratt took to the stage to participate in a debate.

The Marciano family donated a total of $9,000 across multiple individuals this week. That included Guess co-founder and Chief Creative Director Paul Marciano, along with his son and Guess Chief New Business Development Officer Nicolai Marciano

Other donors from the famous denim family included Gabriella Marciano, in addition to Paul’s wife Mareva Marciano and son and Guess Guest Curator Ryan Marciano. 

Late last month, Nathalie Marciano, the former wife of Guess co-founder Maurice Marciano and founder of production firm 26Films, also donated the maximum to Pratt’s campaign. 

Guess Inc. is set to go private once Authentic Brands Group's purchase of a majority stake in the Los Angeles denim company's intellectual property closes.
The Guess Jeans store in Amsterdam. PHOTO: GUESS/INSTAGRAM.

Big Deal

Guess launched in 1981 by Paul, Maurice and their brothers Georges and Armand. 

In more recent years, Paul and Maurice began making significant moves to scale the business. 

That included partnering with brand management firm WHP Global in 2024 to buy Rag & Bone. It marked the first time in Guess history that it was acquiring another business. 

Guess invested $56.5 million into the deal, taking control of the New York contemporary brand’s stores, inventory and the rest of the operating business. Meanwhile, a joint venture with ownership split evenly between Guess and WHP, owned the Rag & Bone intellectual property. 

Guess also launched a sustainably minded brand geared toward a younger consumer in Guess Jeans, which has made modest moves to grow through physical retail, mostly overseas, and wholesale. 

However, the biggest change for Guess came in January of this year when a deal to sell a majority stake of Guess to brand management firm Authentic Brands Group was finalized

Authentic took a 51 percent stake in Guess’ intellectual property with the go-private deal. Meanwhile, management at the denim firm, including Paul and Nicolai, own the remainder of the IP. The management group, which also includes CEO Carlos Alberini, wholly own the operating company, which includes the stores and inventory. 

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