Americans fall for British couple’s fashion boutique

DEMAND for designer dresses and handbags made America the biggest market for a fashion boutique that was founded in Wimbledon.

Revenues at Matches Fashion, which was started by husband and wife Tom and Ruth Chapman ( pictured) in 1987, soared 44pc to £293m last year as its online business boomed in the US. Sales to American shoppers rose 54pc in the year to January 31.

Profits surged 34pc to £26m as customers splashed out on £455 Stella McCartney trainers and £2,200 Prada silk dresses. The royal wedding boosted sales of occasion dresses by 140pc over the weekend. A £1,750 polka dot dress by Italian designer Alessandra Rich sold out after Abigail Spencer – Meghan Markle’s Suits co-star – wore it at the service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Matches saw 82pc of its sales generated outside the UK last year. More than nine in ten sales are now made online.