French Connection Sold As Founder Steps Down
Oct 04, 2021
The womenswear and menswear brand has been acquired by a consortium called MIP after it placed a bid last month. The consortium is comprised of UK-based entrepreneurs Apinder Singh Ghura – French Connection’s second largest shareholder, in addition to Amarjit Singh Grewal, as well as holding company KJR Brothers. The fashion retailer accepted a 30p-per-share offer from the consortium. Upon the completion of the deal French Connection chairman and founder Stephen Marks will retire from the business. Read more at Drapers.
I remember when the FC brand was created. Stephen Marks ex wife, Nicole Fahri, is French and hence the French Connection name. I was the first to give them a 1000 pcs order for Village Gate stores in London at the time.
One of the longest surviving British high street brand in the UK. From the employees of Village Gate came Jones of Kings Road, Woodhouse, Blazer with David Krantz, Flannels, Reiss, David Reiss, who bought the flagship store in the Kings Road Chelsea London, and the list goes on, then of course Paul Smith had the founder, Jeffrey Kwintner, of Village Gate as his mentor for 2-3 years to help him build his business…the rest is history in the UK.