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As April draws to a close, TheIndustry.fashion reflects on a month of continued uncertainty. While we have seen a number of exciting store openings - notably from a number of international entrants - we have also seen the high street irrevocably changed, with a number of household names closing their doors.
Footwear brand Russell & Bromley this week completed the closure of 33 of its stores, while womenswear brand LK Bennett also announced the closure of its UK retail network, alongside accessories chain Claire’s.
Yet we have also seen retailers and brands investing in upgrading and expanding their retail networks, ensuring that the customer experience continues to improve.
Across the sector, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has continued to exert price pressure, although inflation has so far been relatively stable for clothing and footwear, as companies have increased discounting.
Yet there are also signs of growth for the industry, including the announcement that Primark will be spinning off from its parent company ABF, and the announcement that ASOS has halved its losses following a period of operational restructuring, strategic investment, and gradual improvement in customer metrics.
Once again, TheIndustry.fashion reflects on a headline-grabbing month in British retail and beyond, highlighting new openings, key insights into retail and footfall, and in-depth industry analysis.
New Openings
Uniqlo's retail expansion heats up with second Manchester store opening planned
Uniqlo is expanding its presence in the North West and opening a new store at the Trafford Centre later this year, making Manchester the first city outside of London to have two Uniqlo locations.
Longchamp turns Sloane Square into a surf-inspired pop-up
Longchamp launched a temporary pop-up experience in Sloane Square, introducing a surf-inspired concept infused with Parisian style. Running until 12 May and open daily from 10am to 7pm, “La Plage Longchamp” is designed as a seasonal space combining food, culture and retail.
Max Mara-owned Marella opens first London store
Marella, a contemporary Italian fashion brand owned by the Max Mara Fashion Group, opened its first standalone store in London at 8 Marylebone High Street.
Coach targets Gen Z with ‘playful’ pop-up at Selfridges
Coach launched an immersive pop-up in partnership with London department store Selfridges in its ever-evolving Corner Shop space, set to run until 22 May.
Garage to open Manchester Arndale store this summer
Canadian fashion brand Garage revealed more details about its upcoming store at Manchester Arndale, which is set to open this summer and will mark one of its first locations outside London.
Amiri unveils first UK store on London’s New Bond Street
Luxury Los Angeles-based brand Amiri has opened a 4,461 sq ft flagship store at 123 New Bond Street in London. Now selling both its men’s and women’s collections, it marks the brand’s first store in the UK and second in Europe, following an opening in Milan last year.
In Pictures: Alexandra Miro unveils first pop-up store in London’s Notting Hill
London-based designer Alexandra Miro, who specialises in luxury swimwear and resort wear, including dresses, opened a new 430 sq ft pop-up store at 85 Ledbury Road in London’s Notting Hill, set to run until 19 July 2026.
Ami Paris to open long-term pop-up on Chelsea’s Sloane Street
Ami Paris announced it will open a 1,259 sq ft pop-up store at 135 Sloane Street in London’s Chelsea on 9 May, set to run for 18 months.
In Pictures: Antler unveils flagship store on London’s Regent Street
Heritage British travel brand Antler opened a 2,400 sq ft flagship store at 100 Regent Street, marking the brand’s first standalone UK store since it was bought out of administration by Australian business Strandbags Holdings in 2020.
TFG London opens first tri-brand outlet store in Northern Ireland
TFG London opened its first tri-brand outlet store at Northern Ireland’s only premium designer outlet, The Boulevard in Banbridge, bringing Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles together under one roof.
Clarks 'excited' to open new flagship on Oxford Circus
Heritage British footwear brand Clarks is opening a new flagship store on Oxford Street this summer, showcasing its updated retail identity.
Rodd & Gunn to open Bristol store following John Lewis concession success
Menswear brand Rodd & Gunn, which was founded in New Zealand in 1987, is gearing to open a flagship 2,563 sq ft store at Bristol’s Cribbs Mall this summer, having previously found success via a concession with John Lewis at the centre.
Crew Clothing heads to County Durham for latest store as UK roll-out continues
Crew Clothing opened a 750 sq ft store in Barnard Castle, 24 Market Place, County Durham, as it continues its UK retail expansion strategy that has been so prevalent throughout the past year.
In Pictures: Uniqlo unveils store at Bristol’s Cabot Circus as UK store expansion gathers pace
Uniqlo opened a new store at Cabot Circus in Bristol, marking the retailer’s debut store in the South West as its UK retail expansion ramps up.
Lefties signs for third UK store at Gateshead’s Metrocentre
Inditex’s budget fashion and lifestyle brand Lefties signed for a third UK store at Gateshead’s Metrocentre, adding to the first two UK stores it will open later this year, with Liverpool ONE believed to be the first – shortly followed by Lakeside in Kent.
Gymshark heads to Miami for first-ever public gym
British fitness apparel and lifestyle brand Gymshark is set to open its first-ever public gym in Wynwood, Miami, in the US this summer, as it takes its ‘We Do Gym’ ethos to the next level.
In Pictures: Selfridges unveils its new members’ club, 40 Duke
Selfridges unveiled its 25,000 sq ft members’ club, 40 Duke, described as “a hybrid of personal shopping, cultural programming and social space” and providing “experience-led engagement”.
Sports Direct opens new megastore in Kingston’s historic Market Place
Sports Direct opened a new 31,000 sq ft store at 10-13 Market Place in Kingston upon Thames, set over new floors and also housing Fraser Group’s USC and GAME retail concepts.
Data InsightsShop price inflation falls on back of heavy discounting by retailers
Shop price inflation fell in April on the back of heavy discounting by retailers amid warnings consumers are yet to see the “full force” of the Middle East conflict.
Clothing sales recover in March as weather improves
Clothing store sales volume in the UK increased in March, with retailers attributing the rise to improved weather, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail index data.
Consumer confidence falls as rapid price rises give households the ‘jitters’
Consumer confidence fell for the third consecutive month amid household “jitters” over rapid price rises, figures show.
Clothing prices fall despite rising inflation in March
While UK inflation rose to its highest level since December, driven by a sharp jump in diesel and petrol prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East, clothing and footwear prices fell in March due to intense market competition.
Retail sales see March uplift but clothing and footwear continue to ‘struggle’
Total UK retail sales increased by 3.6% year-on-year in March, against a growth of 1.1% in March 2025, though clothing and footwear sales contributed around -0.5 percentage points.
March footfall disappoints despite early Easter and school holidays
Total UK footfall increased by 2.4% year-on-year in March, but with the Easter break and school holidays falling earlier this year than last, footfall comparisons are “artificially higher”, according to the latest data from BRC-Sensormatic.
Adidas searches spike at JD as Molly-Mae collab drops
The footwear collaboration between Adidas Originals and reality TV star Molly-Mae Hague, which launched with limited-edition reworked versions of the ‘Superstar II’ and ‘Samba’ silhouettes, saw demand surge by 51% at JD.
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