Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Morrisons seeks fashion deal

James Thompson
Sunday 06 February 2011 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The grocer Morrisons is in advanced talks with the fashion designer George Davies to launch a clothing range to take on its bigger rivals – Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's.

Mr Davies, who launched the George at Asda brand 20 years ago, could sew up a deal over the coming weeks. That raises the prospect of the new brand landing in the grocer's shops by this autumn. Morrisons does not have a major clothing range and its wider general merchandise offer is tiny compared with its rivals.

A deal between Morrisons and Mr Davies, pictured – who introduced the Per Una brand to Marks & Spencer in 2001 and founded the Next chain in the 1980s – would herald a major shift in the strategy of the grocer under its new chief executive, Dalton Philips. A financial agreement may be worth up to £20m to the fashion entrepreneur even before trading begins.

Mr Davies is one of Britain's most successful designers, who claimed to have sold £54bn of women's clothing in his 47-year career. He sold the Per Una label to M&S in 2004 for £125m.

Mr Davies and Morrisons declined to comment yesterday.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in