Topman
British menswear fashion brand that evolved from an Arcadia high-street chain into an online-led business operated through the Topshop & Topman ownership structure.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Topman is a British menswear fashion brand established by Burton Group in 1978. It developed as the male counterpart to Topshop and became one of the most visible youth-oriented menswear names on the British high street. The brand’s offer covered everyday clothing, denim, tailoring, streetwear, footwear and accessories, combining fashion-led seasonal collections with comparatively accessible high-street pricing. Topman operated within the corporate structure that later became Arcadia Group. Its identity was closely linked to Topshop, although the two brands served different product categories. During the 2000s, Topman expanded its cultural and fashion profile through design collaborations, charity initiatives and a strong presence in fashion-conscious retail environments. It was also recognised by industry and consumer awards, including a 2005 Maxim Style Award for Best Fashion Retailer and a 2007 FHM Fashion and Grooming award for Best High Street Retailer. The brand received a British Fashion Council nomination for Menswear Design of the Year. The business faced reputational and commercial difficulties as Arcadia struggled. In 2001, brand director David Shepherd attracted criticism after making disparaging comments about the brand’s core customers and describing limited occasions for which many customers would wear suits. The episode became associated with the phrase “doing a Ratner,” a reference to a previous retail public-relations crisis. Topman’s international store network was also affected by Arcadia’s financial problems. In 2019, reporting by the BBC and The Wall Street Journal indicated that Topshop and Topman’s United States stores would close, while products would continue to reach customers through digital distribution and wholesale partners such as Nordstrom. Arcadia entered administration in the United Kingdom on 30 November 2020. After competing interest from groups including Next, Frasers Group, a JD Sports-linked consortium and Boohoo, ASOS acquired the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands on 1 February 2021. The transaction was reported at £265 million for the brands, with an additional £65 million paid for existing and pre-ordered stock. ASOS retained approximately 300 employees but did not acquire Arcadia’s stores, placing roughly 2,500 jobs at risk across the acquired businesses. Topman consequently relaunched as an online-only brand rather than continuing the former high-street estate. On 5 September 2024, ASOS announced the sale of a 75% stake in Topshop and Topman to Danish company Bestseller. The arrangement was intended to support a relaunch of the brands’ websites and left open the possibility of future physical retail. A later national partnership announced for February 2026 is described as making Topshop available in 32 John Lewis stores and Topman in six, alongside availability through John Lewis’s website. Topman’s recent history therefore reflects the broader transition of British fashion retail from vertically integrated high-street chains toward digital platforms, brand licensing, wholesale partnerships and shared ownership structures.
History
Topman was created by Burton Group in 1978 as a British menswear retail brand. Burton Group later became Arcadia Group, and Topman developed within that portfolio alongside Topshop, its women’s fashion counterpart. The brand’s principal role was to provide fashion-oriented clothing for younger male shoppers, with a range spanning casual basics, denim, tailoring, footwear and accessories. During the 2000s, Topman became a prominent part of British high-street fashion. Its proposition combined rapidly changing fashion trends with products at prices generally below those of designer or specialist menswear labels. The business also sought cultural relevance through partnerships and fashion-related activity. In 2005 it won the Maxim Style Award for Best Fashion Retailer, and in 2007 it was named Best High Street Retailer at the FHM Fashion and Grooming awards. The British Fashion Council also nominated it for Menswear Design of the Year. The brand experienced a notable public-relations controversy in 2001. David Shepherd, then Topman’s brand director, made comments portraying the brand’s customers in a derogatory manner and suggested that relatively few customers needed suits for work. The remarks were compared with the earlier Ratner retail scandal and became an example of the risks associated with dismissive descriptions of a core customer base. Topman also used collaborations and charitable projects to broaden its identity. In 2008 it worked with The Look Presents, a label associated with writer Paul Gorman and Soho boutique owner Max Karie. In 2011, it worked with Teenage Cancer Trust on a sunglasses range designed with children connected to the charity as part of the “Rock your Shades” campaign. Arcadia’s financial deterioration placed pressure on Topman’s international and domestic operations. In 2019, the collapse of Arcadia’s overseas retail strategy resulted in the announced closure of all 11 Topshop stores in the United States, including Topman locations. The products were expected to remain accessible through online channels and wholesale distribution, including Nordstrom. In the United Kingdom, Arcadia entered administration at 8 p.m. GMT on 30 November 2020. Several parties considered acquiring parts of Arcadia. A consortium involving Next withdrew from a bid for Topshop and Topman, while Frasers Group, a JD Sports-linked consortium and Boohoo were also reported as having expressed interest in Arcadia operations. ASOS entered exclusive talks in January 2021 and announced on 1 February that it had acquired the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands. The reported consideration was £265 million, with a further £65 million for current and pre-ordered stock. ASOS retained about 300 employees but did not take on the 70 stores, putting approximately 2,500 jobs at risk across the transaction. Topman subsequently became an online-only brand under ASOS. The ownership model changed again in 2024. On 5 September, ASOS announced that Bestseller had acquired a 75% stake in Topshop and Topman. The arrangement was presented as a basis for relaunching the websites and potentially rebuilding a physical retail presence. A planned John Lewis partnership for February 2026 was described as placing Topman in six stores and on the John Lewis website. The brand’s trajectory illustrates the restructuring of British fashion retail from a large store-based chain toward a digitally distributed brand supported by platform ownership, wholesale relationships and selective retail partnerships.
- 2026
John Lewis distribution partnership planned
[1]Topman is planned for distribution through six John Lewis stores and the John Lewis website.
- 2024
Bestseller acquires a majority stake
[1]Bestseller acquires 75% of Topshop and Topman from ASOS, with website relaunch plans announced.
- 2021
ASOS acquires Topman
[1]ASOS purchases Topman and three related brands out of administration and moves Topman toward an online-only model.
- 2020
Arcadia enters administration
[1]Arcadia Group enters administration in the United Kingdom, triggering a sale process for its brands.
- 2019
United States stores scheduled to close
[1]Topman and Topshop's United States store operations are affected by Arcadia's restructuring, with digital and wholesale distribution continuing.
- 2011
Teenage Cancer Trust sunglasses initiative
[1]Topman works with Teenage Cancer Trust on a sunglasses range connected with the Rock your Shades campaign.
- 2008
The Look Presents collaboration
[1]Topman collaborates with The Look Presents, a label associated with Paul Gorman and Max Karie.
- 2007
Best High Street Retailer award
[1]Topman receives the Best High Street Retailer award at the FHM Fashion and Grooming awards.
- 2005
Best Fashion Retailer award
[1]Topman wins Best Fashion Retailer at the Maxim Style Awards.
- 2001
Customer-profile comments create a public-relations controversy
[1]Brand director David Shepherd makes controversial comments about Topman's customers and their need for suits.
Products and positioning
Youth-oriented British high-street and online menswear combining trend-led styling, casualwear, denim, streetwear and accessible tailoring.
Apparel · 1978
Menswear
Topman's core assortment consists of men's fashion, including casual tops, shirts, knitwear, trousers, outerwear and seasonal trend-led pieces. The range has historically targeted younger shoppers seeking accessible interpretations of current British and international fashion trends.
Apparel
Denim
Denim has been one of Topman's characteristic categories, covering jeans and related casual separates. It forms part of the brand's everyday wardrobe proposition and supports its positioning between mainstream high-street basics and fashion-led streetwear.
Menswear
Tailoring
Topman's tailoring offer has included suits, jackets, trousers and formal shirts. The category gives the brand a more polished alternative to its casual and streetwear ranges, while remaining oriented toward high-street customers rather than traditional luxury tailoring buyers.
Fashion accessories
Accessories
The brand has sold men's accessories alongside clothing, including sunglasses and other styling items. Its 2011 Teenage Cancer Trust project specifically involved a sunglasses range designed with children connected to the charity.
Controversies
2001
Brand director's comments about customers
David Shepherd, Topman's brand director, was criticised after describing the brand's core customers in disparaging terms and suggesting that few needed to wear suits for work. The episode was likened to the earlier Ratner retail public-relations crisis.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Rock your Shades
United Kingdom
Topman worked with Teenage Cancer Trust on a sunglasses range designed by children associated with the charity, linking a product initiative with fundraising and awareness activity.
Outcome. The initiative supported Teenage Cancer Trust and broadened Topman's charitable and youth-culture positioning.
Brand decisions
2024
Bestseller takes a 75% stake in Topshop and TopmanM&ABackground
After ASOS had operated the brands as online-led businesses, it announced a new ownership arrangement with Danish fashion company Bestseller.
Action taken
ASOS sold a 75% stake in Topshop and Topman to Bestseller while retaining a minority interest.
Aftermath
The partners announced plans to relaunch the websites and left open the possibility of returning to physical retail.
2021
ASOS buys Topman out of Arcadia administrationM&ABackground
Arcadia entered administration and its brands were offered for sale. Several retail groups expressed interest in parts of the business.
Action taken
ASOS acquired Topman, Topshop, Miss Selfridge and HIIT for £265 million, with an additional £65 million for current and pre-ordered stock.
Aftermath
ASOS retained about 300 employees but did not acquire the 70 stores, and Topman relaunched as an online-only brand.
Brand acquisition consideration. £265 million, plus £65 million for current and pre-ordered stock (1 February 2021)
- Next — A consortium including Next had earlier pursued a bid for Topshop and Topman but later dropped it.
- Frasers Group — Frasers Group was reported as having expressed interest in Arcadia operations.
- JD Sports — A consortium including JD Sports was reported as having expressed interest.
- Boohoo — Boohoo was reported as having expressed interest in Arcadia operations.
2019
Shift United States distribution away from storesStrategyBackground
Arcadia's financial difficulties affected Topshop and Topman's United States retail operations.
Action taken
The United States stores were scheduled for closure, with products to remain available through digital channels and wholesale partners.
Aftermath
The decision reduced Topman's physical international presence and anticipated its later online-led operating model.
Recent events
- 2026
Topman planned for John Lewis partnership distribution[1]
Other
A national partnership was described as making Topman available in six John Lewis stores and through johnlewis.com, alongside a wider Topshop rollout.
- 2024
ASOS sells a majority stake in Topshop and Topman to Bestseller[1]
M&A
ASOS announced that it had sold a 75% stake in Topshop and Topman to Danish company Bestseller. The companies indicated that the websites would be relaunched and that a return to physical retail could be considered.
- 2021
ASOS acquires Topman and related Arcadia brands[1]
M&A
ASOS acquired Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT out of administration for £265 million, plus £65 million for current and pre-ordered stock. It bought the brands rather than Arcadia's stores.
- 2021
Topman relaunches as an online-only brand[1]
Product launch
Following ASOS's acquisition, Topman relaunched without the former high-street store estate, shifting its operations to an online-led retail model.
- 2020
Arcadia Group enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy
Arcadia Group entered administration in the United Kingdom on 30 November 2020, placing the future of Topman and its sister brands in question.
- 2019
Topshop and Topman affected by Arcadia's United States store closures[1]
Other
Reporting stated that Arcadia would close all 11 Topshop stores in the United States, including the Topman operation, while continuing to distribute products digitally and through wholesale partners such as Nordstrom.
Sources6 sources
- 1Topmanen.wikipedia.org
- 2ASOS Acquires Arcadia Brandswessexscene.co.uk
- 3Asos launches joint venture to sell Topshop clothes in US storescotswoldjournal.co.uk
- 4ASOS牵手Nordstrom收购部分Topshop股权，互惠互利fashion.sina.com.cn
- 5Nordstrom acquires minority interest in ASOS brandsfoxbusiness.com
- 6Nordstrom acquires stake in UK's premier fashion brands Topshop, Topman | EconoTimeseconotimes.com
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