How tycoon’s toxic reputation fuelled Topshop’s decline

MARKS & Spencer, Debenhams, House of Fraser, LK Bennett. There’s no denying the High Street is in dire straits, largely thanks to competition from online sellers and retail space rents.

But the decline of Topshop may have an additional factor – its owner. Many in the fashion industry believe it’s Sir Philip Green himself who is the key reason for the decline of a chain that was once the darling of the High Street.

This is because of an ever-growing number of accusations of bullying and harassment against him personally and, of course, the ongoing BHS pension scandal.

Yet once upon a time, under brand director Jane Shepherdson, Topshop was seriously cool. In the late 1990s and early 2000s its clothes were the items to be seen in, even before its Kate Moss partnership propelled it to the stratosphere in 2007. It proved a high street store could be as hip and edgy as any designer brand.

Nothing lasts forever. In store, sales were dipping even before the allegations surrounding Green became public, but they could have salvaged something online if not for the toxicity of their owner’s reputation.

Beyonce cut her ties and withdrew athleisure brand Ivy Park. Topshop’s much anticipated collaboration with designer Michael Halpern was cancelled. And not only did the A-list not want to be associated, neither it seems did some of those within the organisation. I’m told a number of designers, buyers and business brains have left the company because they did not want to be associated with Green.

And those huge talents took what we loved about Topshop with them – the fact you could buy quality pieces at High Street prices. It often felt like I spent the majority of my teenage years trying on clothes in Topshop changing rooms.

But unlike other high street institutions that I’m rooting for – John Lewis for example – it’s hard to feel sad about the store’s demise while it’s still associated with Green and his tarnished reputation.