Nov 19, 2007 (LBO) – British fashion queen Jane Shepherdson is planning a new venture, the former Topshop brand director said on a visit to Sri Lanka, which is fast becoming a centre for high-end apparel manufacture. "I™m planning to start a new business soon, that is all I can say, she told LBO.
Shepherdson is widely credited with turning Topshop into a high street brand earning 100 million pounds annual profit from a minor label that earned just a tenth of that when she took over.
She parted with Topshop in October 2006 soon after the entry of model Kate Moss into the firm. A fan of 'ethical' production practices, she has since been consulting for Oxfam and the Japanese brand People Tree.
Sri Lanka is now a key manufacturing base for labels like Victoria's Secret, Triumph, Gap and Speedo.
"The manufacturing in Sri Lanka is incredible. It™s so highly sophisticated and I™m really looking forward to getting back in the business so I can take advantage of it, says Shepherdson.
While promoting high fashion at affordable prices, Shepherdson is trying to push 'ethical brands' where sweatshop labour practi