Upmarket sportswear retailer Sweaty Betty on Tuesday said it is in good shape, despite falling into the red, as it cheered unstoppable demand for £95 “bum-sculpting” leggings.
The chain, founded in Notting Hill in 1998 by Simon Hill-Norton and his wife Tamara, saw UK sales leap 18% to £56.6 million in 2018.
It recorded a pre-tax loss of £710,753, which was down from a profit of £1.3 million. That followed investments into digital and new stores.
Chief executive Julia Straus told the Evening Standard: “We are mindful of economic and political uncertainty, but shoppers don’t seem to be holding back on fitness-related spending.”
She added: “We see ongoing growth potential in the activewear sector as people increasingly concentrate on health and wellbeing.”
Straus said in the first half of this year Sweaty Betty sold one pair of its £75-£95 bum-sculpting leggings every minute.
The firm has over 60 shops globally and is owned by the founders and private-equity firm Catterton. It next month plans to open its first Asia store.
