Destination Maternity
Former United States maternity-apparel retailer and designer that operated Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Destination Maternity Corporation was a United States maternity-apparel company headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey. It developed and sold clothing, intimate apparel, accessories, and related products for pregnant women and new mothers, while also offering baby clothing and licensed or designer-led collections. The company operated a multi-brand retail portfolio that included Motherhood Maternity, positioned toward accessible and mid-market shoppers, and A Pea in the Pod, which served a more premium segment. Its historical retail architecture also included Destination Maternity stores and shop-in-shop locations in department stores. The company was formerly known as Mothers Work, Inc. and became associated with the Destination Maternity name as it consolidated a broad maternity-retailing business. Its distribution model combined company-operated stores, brand-specific retail formats, department-store shop-in-shops, e-commerce, and wholesale relationships. The business competed in a specialized category in which fit, comfort, changing body proportions, nursing functionality, and relatively short customer purchasing cycles were central to product design and merchandising. During the 2000s and early 2010s, Destination Maternity broadened its appeal through partnerships and licensed collections. It worked with the National Football League and Major League Baseball on maternity apparel and baby products, and introduced celebrity-associated lines involving Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, Rosie Pope, Rachel Zoe, and Molly Sims. The Heidi Klum collaboration was divided between Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod and Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity, allowing the company to address both premium and more affordable price points. Other collaborations included Disney-related products and a collection associated with Rosie Pope. The company later faced intensifying competition, changing shopping habits, pressure on physical retail, and a substantial long-term debt burden. On October 21, 2019, Destination Maternity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It announced plans to close 210 locations across its three brands as part of its restructuring. By the end of March 2020, all of its stores had closed. The retail corporation therefore ceased operating its former store network, although intellectual property, websites, brand names, and wholesale activities continued under a successor structure. From July 1, 2020, Maternity IP Holdings, formerly associated with Destination Maternity, operated Motherhood.com and APeaInThePod.com under the Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod trade names. That business retained wholesale relationships and was owned by a subsidiary of Marquee Brands. Destination Maternity is consequently best understood as a defunct retail corporation whose principal maternity brands and intellectual property continued in a more focused, digitally oriented and wholesale-linked form after the bankruptcy and store closures.
History
Destination Maternity emerged from Mothers Work, Inc., a company built around the design, retailing, and distribution of maternity apparel in the United States. Rather than relying on a single label, the business developed a portfolio strategy covering different customer segments and shopping environments. Motherhood Maternity served as the broad-access and more affordable retail proposition, while A Pea in the Pod addressed customers seeking more premium styling and materials. Destination Maternity stores and department-store shop-in-shops extended the portfolio's physical presence, while e-commerce and wholesale relationships provided additional distribution. The company's category specialization gave it a recognizable position in maternity clothing. Product development addressed the practical requirements of pregnancy and early motherhood, including adaptable silhouettes, comfort, stretch, changing body proportions, and maternity-specific intimate apparel. Baby clothing and accessories complemented the core apparel business. During the 2000s and early 2010s, the company also used licensing and celebrity collaborations to bring fashion, entertainment, and sports affiliations into a specialized retail category. Partnerships with the National Football League and Major League Baseball produced maternity shirts, sweatpants, and baby items. Designer and celebrity collections included Nicole Richie, Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, Disney, Rosie Pope, Rachel Zoe, and Molly Sims. The Heidi Klum program illustrated Destination Maternity's segmentation strategy. Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod was presented as the more elevated collection, while Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity was aimed at a more accessible price level. The Jessica Simpson collection was distributed through hundreds of retail locations, including Motherhood Maternity, Destination Maternity, and Destination Maternity shop-in-shops within Macy's. These initiatives helped the company combine its specialist maternity expertise with broader fashion and lifestyle recognition. Over time, the company encountered structural pressure from increased competition, the changing retail environment, and the financial burden of long-term debt. Physical-store economics became increasingly difficult for a business serving a limited-duration customer need, while online shopping and broader apparel competition altered how consumers purchased maternity clothing. On October 21, 2019, Destination Maternity sought Chapter 11 protection. The restructuring included a plan to close 210 locations across its three brands. By the end of March 2020, all stores had closed, ending the company's former store-based retail network. The business did not disappear entirely. From July 1, 2020, Maternity IP Holdings, described as the former Destination Maternity business, operated Motherhood.com and APeaInThePod.com under the Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod trade names. It also retained wholesale relationships and was owned by a subsidiary of Marquee Brands. The post-bankruptcy structure therefore preserved key brands and intellectual property while moving away from the former nationwide company-operated store model. Destination Maternity's history is consequently one of specialist category leadership, portfolio branding and collaboration-led merchandising, followed by financial restructuring and a transition toward a narrower digital and wholesale operation.
- 2020
Former store network closes
[1]All stores had closed by the end of March as the company completed its retail contraction.
- 2020
Selected operations continue under Maternity IP Holdings
[1]Motherhood.com and APeaInThePod.com continued under Maternity IP Holdings, with the associated brands owned by a Marquee Brands subsidiary.
- 2019
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]Destination Maternity filed for Chapter 11 protection amid competition and long-term debt pressures.
- 2015
Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims collaborations
[1]A Pea in the Pod collaborated with Rachel Zoe and worked with Molly Sims on an exclusive Luxe Essentials Denim collection.
- 2012
Jessica Simpson maternity collection launched
[1]A Jessica Simpson maternity collection became available through hundreds of locations, including the company's own brands and Macy's shop-in-shop locations.
- 2010
MLB-themed maternity products announced
[1]The company announced a similar partnership involving Major League Baseball maternity T-shirts and baby clothing.
- 2010
Heidi Klum collections launched
[1]Destination Maternity introduced Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod and Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity.
- 2009
NFL maternity collection partnership
[1]Destination Maternity partnered with the National Football League to offer NFL-themed maternity T-shirts, sweatpants, and baby clothing through Motherhood Maternity stores.
Products and positioning
Mid-market maternity apparel with a premium tier through A Pea in the Pod and designer collaborations.
Maternity apparel retail brand
Motherhood Maternity
Motherhood Maternity was the company's accessible and broad-market maternity retail brand. Its assortment included maternity clothing, intimate apparel, accessories, and selected baby products. The brand was used for company stores, online operations, and collaborations such as the Loved by Heidi Klum collection and licensed sports merchandise.
Premium maternity apparel retail brand
A Pea in the Pod
A Pea in the Pod served as the company's more premium maternity-fashion proposition. Its range emphasized elevated styling and designer-oriented collaborations, including Lavish by Heidi Klum and work with Rachel Zoe. The brand operated through retail and digital channels and remained part of the successor intellectual-property portfolio.
Specialty maternity retail format
Destination Maternity stores
Destination Maternity stores were part of the company's multi-brand physical retail network. They offered maternity apparel and related products, and the Destination Maternity name was also used for shop-in-shop locations, including placements within department stores. The store network was closed during the 2019–2020 restructuring.
Celebrity collaboration · 2010
Heidi Klum maternity collections
The Heidi Klum collaboration was divided into two collections aligned with the company's brand tiers. Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod targeted a more high-end customer, while Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity offered a more affordable alternative.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims collaborations
United States
A Pea in the Pod collaborated with Rachel Zoe and worked with Molly Sims on an exclusive Luxe Essentials Denim collection.
Outcome. The collaborations reinforced the premium and fashion-led positioning of A Pea in the Pod.
- 2012Jessica Simpson maternity collection
United States
Destination Maternity introduced a Jessica Simpson maternity collection distributed through its own retail brands and Macy's shop-in-shop locations.
Outcome. The collection was made available in approximately 700 retail locations according to the reference material.
- 2010MLB maternity apparel partnership
United States
The company introduced a Major League Baseball-related range of maternity T-shirts and baby clothing.
Outcome. The collaboration broadened the sports-licensed product offering; further performance information is not available in the reference material.
- 2010Heidi Klum collections
United States
Two Heidi Klum collections were launched, with Lavish positioned for A Pea in the Pod and Loved positioned for Motherhood Maternity.
Outcome. The structure allowed the company to use one celebrity collaboration across premium and accessible customer segments.
- 2009NFL maternity apparel partnership
United States
Destination Maternity worked with the National Football League on licensed maternity T-shirts, sweatpants, and baby clothing sold through Motherhood Maternity stores.
Outcome. The partnership expanded the company's licensed sports assortment; later continuation is not specified in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2020
Transition to successor digital and wholesale operationsStrategyBackground
Following the closure of the former store network, the principal maternity brands and related intellectual property remained commercially usable.
Action taken
Maternity IP Holdings operated Motherhood.com and APeaInThePod.com under the Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod trade names and retained wholesale relationships.
Aftermath
The business continued in a narrower structure owned by a subsidiary of Marquee Brands rather than through the former nationwide company-operated store base.
2019
Chapter 11 restructuringOtherBackground
Destination Maternity cited increased competition and pressure from long-term debt when it sought bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 protection and announced the closure of 210 locations across its three brands.
Aftermath
The entire store network had closed by the end of March 2020, and selected brand and digital operations continued through Maternity IP Holdings.
Recent events
- 2020
Destination Maternity store network closes[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
All stores in the former retail network had closed by the end of March 2020.
- 2020
Maternity IP Holdings continues selected brand operations[1]
M&A
After the retail closures, Maternity IP Holdings operated Motherhood.com and APeaInThePod.com and maintained wholesale relationships under the Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod names.
- 2019
Destination Maternity files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The company attributed its bankruptcy filing to increased competition and difficulties associated with long-term debt.
- 2019
Destination Maternity announces closure of 210 locations[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
As part of its Chapter 11 restructuring, the company announced the closure of 210 stores across its three retail brands.
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