Topshop is making a nationwide return to bricks-and-mortar retail, launching in 32 John Lewis stores in its most significant high street comeback since the collapse of Arcadia Group in 2020.
The relaunch, which also sees Topman stocked in seven John Lewis locations, marks the first time in four years that the brand has returned to physical retail at scale.
Topshop’s original Oxford Street flagship was once a defining force in British fashion, famously drawing crowds when Kate Moss launched her collection in 2007. Its revival within John Lewis stores aims to recapture some of that cultural resonance.
After Arcadia entered administration, Topshop was acquired by Asos, which later sold a 75 per cent stake in the brand to Heartland, the investment arm of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, founder of Bestseller.
Historically associated with shoppers aged 16 to 24, Topshop now returns via a retailer traditionally known for appealing to an older demographic. John Lewis said the move is designed to broaden its appeal to younger consumers while reconnecting with millennials who grew up with the brand.
The department store chain has been rebuilding its position after years of intense competition from rivals such as Marks & Spencer, a pandemic-driven shift towards online shopping and previous expansion missteps that left it with excess retail space.
Under a new leadership team, John Lewis has pursued a back-to-basics strategy, focusing on customer service, reintroducing its “never knowingly undersold” pledge and investing heavily in its in-store experience.
The Topshop relaunch coincides with London Fashion Week and features around 130 pieces across denim, tailoring, outerwear and wardrobe staples. Signature styles such as the Jamie and Joni jeans return alongside updated designs. Cara Delevingne fronts the new campaign.
Peter Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, described the partnership as a significant step in its fashion strategy. “To be the exclusive home of an iconic brand like Topshop signals our ambition to be the definitive style authority on the British high street,” he said.
Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said the partnership would bring the brand back to high streets across the UK “with the level of service our customers expect”.
The relaunch forms part of a wider £800m multi-year investment by John Lewis, which includes refurbishments of key stores, notably its Oxford Street flagship, and the introduction of 14 new fashion brands across womenswear and menswear.
For Topshop, the move represents a symbolic return to physical retail. For John Lewis, it is a calculated bet that brand nostalgia and refreshed fashion credentials can help reignite footfall on Britain’s struggling high streets.
