British fashion brand Topshop to return to high street at John Lewis

By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) -Topshop, the British fashion brand that set trends in its early 2000s heyday, will return to high streets across the country in John Lewis department stores next year, the companies said on Wednesday.

A selection of Topshop pieces including denim, jackets and wardrobe staples will be available in 32 John Lewis stores from February, they said. Menswear brand Topman will be stocked in six, they added.

Topshop was a fashion destination for young women in the late 1990s and early 2000s, attracted to its cool styles at high street prices.

It declined in the 2010s and its final store closed in 2021 after its parent company Arcadia, owned by former retail tycoon Philip Green, went into administration.

The brand was bought by online retailer ASOS, which in turn sold 75% to Heartland, owner of online retailer Bestseller in 2024.

As well as online on its own sites and ASOS, some Topshop ranges are sold in upmarket London store Liberty.

John Lewis managing Director Peter Ruis said bringing Topshop and Topman back to high streets across the UK was a landmark moment and the retailer was thrilled to be its nationwide partner.

"It's the ultimate proof of our strategy: offering the most-loved brands alongside the unwavering trust of our brand promise," he said.

John Lewis has traditionally appealed to a broad swathe of Britain's middle classes, whereas Topshop was targeted at young shoppers.

Ruis, however, said Topshop would resonate with our "Gen Zs and our Gen Xs and everyone in between" and would exemplify the new John Lewis.

Topshop's Managing Director Michelle Wilson said: "We want to be back at the forefront of both British fashion and British culture, and our mission is absolutely to bring the best of fashion to everyone."

John Lewis also announced a marketing campaign marking the 100 year anniversary of its "Never Knowingly Undersold" price promise.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)