Who are the power players of fashion retail today?

Covid-19 has paved the way for multichannel fashion retail conglomerates to snap up struggling businesses, allowing them to fill any gaps in their burgeoning portfolios and cater to the increasing demand for online shopping.

Since the start of the pandemic, etail pureplays have purchased struggling high street names and taken them online-only. In February 2021, Asos bought Arcadia Groups Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge out of administration, while Boohoo Group bought the remaining Wallis, Burton, Dorothy Perkins brands in the same month. It also acquired collapsed department store chain Debenhams in January 2021, and Oasis and Warehouse Group in 2020. Marks & Spencer bought collapsed Jaeger in January 2021, while Gap, which Next bought a 51% share of in September 2021, has also gotten rid of its store portfolio and is now sold on the retail giants Total Platform.

Bricks-and-mortar giants are also wanting a slice of the online pureplay pie. Bricks-and-mortar giants are also wanting a slice of the online pureplay pie. JD Sports Fashion acquired womenswear etailer Missy Empire in June 2021. Frasers Group, for example, purchased Studio Retail Group in February 2022, Missguided in June 2022, and I Saw It First in July 2022.

With so many mergers and acquisitions over the past two and a half years, Drapers explores who the movers and shakers are in UK mainstream fashion retail.

Click below to read individual company profiles and acquisition information.

These high street players are emerging from the pandemic relatively unscathed and, although they are not acquiring, they remain significant players.

Ordered by market cap. All companies have been approached for information checking.