New Look
British value-oriented fashion retailer known for trend-led womenswear, footwear, accessories, menswear and clothing for younger shoppers.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
New Look is a British fashion retailer established by Tom Singh in Taunton, Somerset, in 1969. It developed around a high-street retail model offering fashion-led clothing and accessories at accessible prices, with womenswear becoming the central part of its proposition. The brand later broadened its range to include menswear, footwear, accessories and clothing aimed at teenagers and younger consumers. Its business has combined physical shops with e-commerce, allowing it to compete in the value and mid-market sections of the highly competitive British apparel market. The company expanded steadily in the United Kingdom and subsequently entered overseas markets. Ireland became an important early international destination, with New Look opening there in 2003. The retailer also entered Russia in 2009 and operated in China and other international markets during its broader expansion phase. At its peak, the chain had more than 900 shops internationally. A large store opened at Dublin's Jervis Shopping Centre in November 2010, illustrating the scale of the company's international retail ambitions at that time. New Look's ownership and capital structure changed repeatedly. In 2004, the company was taken private after withdrawing from the stock market. The going-private transaction involved founder Tom Singh, chief executive Phil Wrigley and private-equity investors including Permira, Apax Partners and Quillian Investments. In May 2015, South African investment company Brait SE acquired the retailer for approximately £780 million. At the time, New Look had 852 stores globally, including 94 in China. The transaction placed the company under significant pressure to deliver growth across a broad store estate and multiple international markets. The retailer subsequently faced operational, financial and structural difficulties. Changing consumer shopping habits, the shift toward online purchasing, intense competition from other value-fashion chains and the cost of maintaining a large physical estate contributed to a major retrenchment. In 2018, New Look announced the closure of 60 UK stores and a withdrawal from several international markets. The company also used formal restructuring processes during the COVID-19 period, including a Chapter 15 bankruptcy filing in the United States in 2020 in connection with its wider financial restructuring. New Look has continued to operate as a private fashion retailer, with the United Kingdom remaining its principal market and online retail playing an important role. Its brand identity is associated with accessible, trend-responsive clothing rather than premium design or technical apparel. The company has also used inclusive and style-oriented marketing, including its 2017 “My Life My Style My Look” campaign, which featured Georgie Aldous as the brand's first male model presented in a full face of makeup. In 2025, the Irish business entered provisional liquidation proceedings after substantial losses, and New Look announced its exit from the Irish market. These developments marked a further contraction from the retailer's earlier international footprint.
History
New Look began in 1969 when Tom Singh established the business in Taunton, Somerset. It grew as a British high-street fashion chain focused on affordable, fashionable clothing. Although the retailer later developed menswear and youth ranges, womenswear remained its principal commercial identity. Its model relied on frequent fashion updates, accessible pricing and a broad network of shops supported by an online channel. The company expanded beyond the United Kingdom during the 2000s. It entered Ireland in 2003 and later developed a wider international presence, including operations in Russia and China. The chain ultimately operated more than 900 shops internationally at one stage. Its international expansion was supported by large-format stores, including a major outlet opened at Dublin's Jervis Shopping Centre in November 2010. Ownership changed significantly in 2004, when New Look withdrew from the stock market and returned to private ownership. The transaction involved founder Tom Singh, chief executive Phil Wrigley and private-equity investors Permira, Apax Partners and Quillian Investments. In May 2015, Brait SE acquired the company for approximately £780 million. At the time of the acquisition, the retailer had 852 stores worldwide, of which 94 were in China. The business also experienced serious regulatory and operational controversy. A fire at the Oxford Street store in London on 26 April 2007 prompted an investigation that identified numerous shortcomings in fire-safety precautions and procedures. New Look pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the failings. In November 2009, it received fines totalling £400,000 and was ordered to pay £136,052 in costs. The fines were upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2010. Following the 2015 acquisition, New Look encountered difficult trading conditions. The apparel sector was affected by changing customer preferences, the migration of shopping to digital channels and competition from other low-priced fashion retailers. In 2018, the company announced the closure of 60 UK stores and a withdrawal from international markets. This represented a significant change from its previous expansion strategy and reduced its exposure to costly overseas operations. New Look's restructuring continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, it filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the United States, a procedure used for recognition of foreign insolvency or restructuring proceedings. The filing formed part of a wider attempt to address the retailer's financial pressures. Despite the contraction of its store estate, the brand continued operating, with the UK and online retail remaining central to its business. The Irish operation faced another major setback in 2025. The High Court of Ireland appointed provisional liquidators after substantial losses over the preceding four years. New Look subsequently announced its departure from the Irish market. The closing-down process generated criticism over the reported refusal to accept New Look gift vouchers. The Irish exit further illustrated the retailer's movement away from the broad international footprint it had built during its expansion period. Marketing has remained an important part of New Look's attempt to connect with younger and style-conscious shoppers. Its 2017 “My Life My Style My Look” campaign emphasised self-expression and featured Georgie Aldous as the first male model used by the brand in a full face of makeup. Overall, New Look's history combines rapid high-street and international expansion with private-equity ownership, regulatory setbacks, store rationalisation, insolvency restructuring and a continuing focus on affordable fashion.
- 2025
Irish operations enter provisional liquidation
[1]The High Court of Ireland appoints provisional liquidators to New Look's Irish operations.
- 2025
Exit from Ireland
[1]New Look announces that it will withdraw from the Irish market.
- 2020
Chapter 15 restructuring
[1]The company files for Chapter 15 protection in the United States during the COVID-19 crisis.
- 2018
Store estate rationalisation
[1]New Look announces 60 UK store closures and a withdrawal from international markets.
- 2015
Brait acquires New Look
[1]Brait SE acquires the privately held retailer for approximately £780 million.
- 2010
Largest store opens in Dublin
[1]The retailer opens its largest New Look shop at Dublin's Jervis Shopping Centre.
- 2009
Russia launch
[1]New Look opens its first shop in Russia during its fortieth anniversary year.
- 2007
Oxford Street store fire
[1]A fire at the London Oxford Street branch triggers an investigation into the retailer's fire-safety arrangements.
- 2004
Return to private ownership
[1]The company withdraws from the stock market and is taken private by founder-linked and private-equity investors.
- 2003
Entry into Ireland
[1]New Look opens its first Irish operations as part of its international expansion.
Products and positioning
Accessible, trend-led high-street fashion with a strong emphasis on affordable womenswear.
Apparel · 1969
Womenswear
New Look's core range consists of affordable, trend-responsive womenswear. The assortment covers everyday clothing, occasion pieces, seasonal collections and fashion basics designed for high-street shoppers. Womenswear has historically been the centre of the brand's identity and merchandising strategy.
Apparel
Menswear
The brand also sells men's clothing positioned within the same accessible, high-street fashion proposition. The range complements the retailer's womenswear-led business and extends New Look's appeal to a broader customer base.
Youth apparel
Teen clothing
New Look offers clothing aimed at teenagers and younger fashion consumers. These products support the brand's emphasis on rapidly changing trends, accessible prices and social-media-friendly styling.
Footwear
Footwear
Footwear is a major complementary category, covering fashion-oriented shoes and seasonal styles designed to coordinate with the retailer's apparel collections. It helps New Look provide complete high-street outfits rather than clothing alone.
Accessories
Accessories
Accessories broaden the New Look assortment with lower-priced styling and outfit-completion products. They form part of the retailer's value-fashion model and are sold alongside apparel and footwear through stores and online channels.
Controversies
2025
Gift-voucher criticism during Irish exit
New Look was criticised during the Irish closing-down sale after reports that the retailer would not accept its own gift vouchers. The issue arose alongside the liquidation and closure of the Irish operation.
2009
Oxford Street fire-safety prosecution
After the 2007 Oxford Street store fire, investigators identified extensive failures in fire-safety precautions and measures. New Look pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was fined £400,000, with an additional £136,052 in costs. The fines were upheld on appeal in 2010.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017My Life My Style My Look
United Kingdom
New Look used the campaign to promote personal expression and individual styling. It attracted attention by featuring British model Georgie Aldous as the brand's first male model shown wearing a full face of makeup.
Outcome. The campaign received attention for its inclusive and gender-fluid presentation.
Brand decisions
2025
Exit from the Irish marketStrategyBackground
New Look's Irish operations recorded substantial losses over the preceding four years and entered provisional liquidation proceedings.
Action taken
The company announced that it would withdraw from Ireland.
Aftermath
The decision ended New Look's direct retail presence in the Irish market and led to closing-down activity.
2020
Chapter 15 bankruptcy filingOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified financial pressure on fashion retailers and disrupted physical-store trading.
Action taken
New Look filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the United States as part of its restructuring.
Aftermath
The filing supported recognition of the company's wider restructuring process in the United States.
2018
Store closures and international retreatStrategyBackground
New Look faced difficult trading conditions, structural changes in apparel retail and pressure from online and value-fashion competitors.
Action taken
The retailer announced the closure of 60 UK shops and withdrawal from international markets.
Aftermath
The decision reduced the physical and international footprint and concentrated the business more heavily on its core market.
2015
Brait acquisitionM&ABackground
New Look had developed a large international store network and remained a major private fashion retailer.
Action taken
Brait SE acquired New Look for approximately £780 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by renewed pressure to improve performance across the UK and international store estate.
Acquisition value. Approximately £780 million (May 2015)
2004
Take the company privateStrategyBackground
New Look moved away from public-market ownership during a period of shareholder and capital-structure change.
Action taken
The company withdrew from the stock market and returned to private ownership involving Tom Singh, Phil Wrigley and private-equity investors.
Aftermath
The private structure preceded further expansion and later ownership by Brait SE.
Recent events
- 2025
Irish court appoints provisional liquidators to New Look operations[1]
Bankruptcy
The High Court of Ireland appointed provisional liquidators to New Look's Irish operations after the business reported substantial losses over the preceding four years.
- 2025
New Look announces exit from the Irish market[1]
Bankruptcy
The company announced that it would leave the Irish market following the appointment of provisional liquidators to its Irish operations.
- 2020
New Look files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy
During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Look filed for Chapter 15 protection in the United States as part of its broader financial restructuring.
- 2018
New Look closes UK stores and withdraws from international markets[1]
Other
The retailer announced the closure of 60 UK stores and a retreat from a number of overseas markets as part of a restructuring of its store network.
- 2017
New Look launches My Life My Style My Look campaign[1]
Campaign
The campaign promoted personal style and included Georgie Aldous as the retailer's first male model shown wearing a full face of makeup.
Sources7 sources
- 1New Look (company)en.wikipedia.org
- 2New Look official websitenewlook.com
- 3Huge new clothing store announced for Churchill Squaretheargus.co.uk
- 4New Look announces closure of another Dorset storebournemouthecho.co.uk
- 5New Look closes town centre store in Wrexhamleaderlive.co.uk
- 6Popular fashion retailer offers festive discount for Beaumond Housenewarkadvertiser.co.uk
- 7UK retailer New Look appoints Sainsbury's ex-CEO Mike Coupe as chairmanretail.economictimes.indiatimes.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/new-look · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled