New Look

UK-founded value fashion retailer with 400+ stores in the UK and Ireland and 8,500+ employees, operating womenswear, menswear, and teen clothing across high street and online channels. Relevant to retail coverage as a mid-market UK fashion player navigating the shift to digital-first retail. Founded in 1969, New Look underwent a company voluntary arrangement in 2018 that restructured its lease portfolio and reduced its store estate from a peak of over 600 locations. It competes directly with Primark, H&M, and the major UK fast-fashion platforms, occupying a price bracket above Primark but below department store concessions — a position that has historically made it vulnerable to squeeze from both ends of the value spectrum.

First mentioned: April 2026