Editors' Top Reads: News from Topshop, New Look, Loewe and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.fashion team.
Topshop teases return to the high street
"We've missed you too" ran the strapline on an Instagram post from Topshop this week. The post appeared to show what could be the beginnings of the building of a new store. Fans of the brand lit up the comments, convinced this was a teaser for the opening of its first store, since they were all closed down following the collapse of former owner Arcadia during the pandemic. The loss of "Big Topshop" at Oxford Circus is still raw for fashion fans (I still get the hump when I walk past and see the IKEA signs on the site) and the notion that we might be getting a new store was met with glee.
In the event it turned out the post related to a fan-fuelled art installation and treasure hunt across London’s Soho for Topshop lovers old and new. which has been created in partnership with London-based artist Russ Jones.
Surely though, those nice folks at ASOS and Bestseller (now co-owners of the brand) would be so cruel as to tease us like this and not follow up with a store? They pretty much said they would return to the high street when ASOS spun off the Topshop brand into the joint venture with Bestseller in September of last year, but the emphasis in the statement was that its return to physical stores might first come through wholesale partners. Either way, I want to see it back in the high street IRL and in the meantime I'll have to take my chances on the Soho treasure hunt.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
The Interview: How Lounge founder Mel Marsden is turning the brand into one-stop-shop for womenswear
Earlier this year, I was invited to dinner by the Lounge team to learn about how the brand is moving out of just lingerie and loungewear and branching into fashion and accessories. After meeting co-founder Mel Marsden, I knew I had to feature her as part of our 'The Interview' series.
Marsden is the creative force behind the brand who's on a mission to build a womenswear brand that blends fashion and empowerment. Historically known for its logo-imbued underwear, Marsden explained how the brand is repositioning itself as a fashion powerhouse, growing alongside its evolving customers.
In 2015, when the husband and wife duo launched Lounge, they capitalised on the then brand-new way of marketing, otherwise known as influencer marketing. As one of the first to adopt the transformative tool that is influencer marketing, the brand " took off almost overnight".
Now, Lounge is evolving creating a department-store-like offering including clothing and hinting at accessories. Its new USP? Like the underwear it's known for, Lounge's fashion line will be contour-focused.
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
New Look to open 'new concept' store at Bluewater
Despite recent store closures and its exit from Ireland, New Look has revealed plans to relocate to a 12,120 sq ft ‘new concept’ store at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. The move is part of a broader strategy to upgrade 17 additional stores across the UK, as the brand focuses on maximising the potential of its best performing locations.
The new store will feature New Look’s first ‘omni-hub’ space, "integrating new initiatives to streamline the customer journey", including digital inspiration, showrooms and displays. It will also feature a dedicated Service Hub to improve collections and returns.
The revamped Bluewater store will follow New Look's £3 million investment in its Manchester locations, where the brand tested new store designs aimed at enhancing product merchandising and aligning the shop floor more closely with New Look’s brand identity. If it's been successful in Manchester, it bodes well for Bluewater, especially during this crucial period for the business as it navigates challenges.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
JD named official UFC lifestyle and sportswear retail partner for Europe
UK ‘king of trainers’ retailer JD came out swinging this week with the announcement that it has signed a deal to become the official lifestyle and sportswear retail partner for Europe for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation was founded in Denver, Colorado in the US in 1993 and is now based in Las Vegas and owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings (a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings) – which turned UFC’s fortunes around significantly, especially in the last 10 years where its growth has been meteoric.
It now stands as one of the most popular sports in the world, boasting a global fanbase of more than 700 million and with events broadcast in over 170 countries.
You can certainly see the attraction to JD being attached to it, and the retailer will now have its branding featured on UFC’s famous Octagon on European fight nights, starting tomorrow night with the Leon “Rocky” Edwards versus Sean Brady welterweight fight at The O2 in London.
Today sees young UFC fans head to the JD store at Westfield Stratford where a lucky handful of the “JD community” will be entered into a draw for a chance to win tickets to the fight, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes access.
The new deal will also see JD host a series of UFC fan-centric events across Europe throughout this year. It could be the start of a long and fruitful partnership.
Tom Bottomley, Contributing Editor.
Jonathan Anderson leaves Loewe, but where's he going next?
In news that will surprise no one who has not been living under a rock for the past six months, superstar designer Jonathan Anderson is leaving Loewe. The Northern Irish designer took this rather lovely but low-key luxury leather goods house and turned it into a fashion-meets-culture global powerhouse for its owner LVMH. Before he joined the business 11 years ago, most people didn't even know how to pronounce Loewe and now if you don't own several original pieces (my two baskets are among my most favourite possessions) then you own a great number that have been inspired by Anderson's outstanding work.
Of course, the next expected announcement is that he has been given full creative control of Dior, also owned by LVMH. Dior's former menswear design chief Kim Jones has left and, if we are to believe the rumours, womenswear design chief Maria Grazia Chiuri is on the exit ramp. But matters are being delayed due to contractual wrangles.
I am obsessed with Dior and I am preparing to be even more so when Anderson is put in charge. Imagine his take on the Bar Jacket, the Lady Dior bag and anything featuring the "Cannage" quilt or Dior oblique logo? I literally cannot wait. Can LVMH please just get him in there already? Luxury fashion is in the doldrums. Anderson at Dior could sort that situation out on his own. (Along with some major support from Matthieu Blazy at Chanel of course.)
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
