A total of 30 fashion brands have shrugged off Britain’s retail gloom and opened debut London stores over the past year, according to new research.
Retail property agent Harper Dennis Hobbs’ boss James Ebel said these brands, including Danish label Ganni, collectively took 44,250 square feet in the West End in the 12 months to September.
Ebel said: “Against a wider backdrop of insolvencies and store closures, these numbers show that the West End continues to be a priority market for international and forward-thinking fashion brands.”
He added: “We continue to see a healthy flow of retailers looking to enter the UK real-estate market.”
As well as new entrants, there have also been existing brands in the capital expanding, including American skater shoes brand Vans which has signed to take the prime Oxford Street site previously occupied by Miss Selfridge.
Central London clothing firms are expecting a footfall boost this weekend from crowds in town for London Fashion Week.
