A major fashion retailer has returned to the UK high street after closing all its stores seven years ago.
Karen Millen is a luxury womenswear brand that specialises in tailoring, coats, and other occasionwear.
It collapsed into administration in 2019 before being acquired by Boohoo Group.
As a result, the company closed all its physical stores across the country and moved to an online-only model.
Karen Millen returns to UK high street after 7 years
Now, Karen Millen is returning to the high street after a seven-year absence.
The luxury womenswear brand will relaunch through a series of new concessions across the UK, with a focus on occasionwear and its signature Forever Collection, Drapers reports.
The Leicester store at Fosse Park will be the first to open today (Friday, August 14), followed by additional locations in Liverpool One and Aberdeen’s Union Square on Monday, August 17.
More concessions are set to follow, although the date and areas have not yet been confirmed.
Dan Finley, CEO of Debenhams Group, which owns Karen Millen, said: “Karen Millen is a brand with real heritage, recognition and a loyal customer base, so bringing it back to the high street is a significant moment.
“Our customers want great fashion, but they also want to experience brands in different ways, and physical retail gives us another opportunity to do that.”
The return is part of a partnership with TFG (The Foschini Group), which also owns Hobbs, Phase Eight, and Whistles.
The new concessions will showcase curated ranges of Karen Millen’s most popular pieces.
Garments will include dresses, shirts, blazers, and coats, with prices starting at £49 for a viscose blend knitted cardigan and rising to £429 for a wool tailored maxi coat.
Mr Finley said: “Working with TFG allows us to bring the Karen Millen signature craftsmanship and occasionwear to a new generation of customers, while building on the strength of a brand that has been part of British fashion for more than four decades.”
Karen Millen was established in 1981 by the British designer of the same name, who sold the business in 2004 and has not been associated with it since.
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UK companies that have closed or entered administration or liquidation in 2026
Despite Karen Millen’s return, it has been a difficult year for the high street, with many businesses being forced to close stores and others entering administration or liquidation.
Major high street brands LK Bennett and Claire’s have both closed all their stores, having previously fallen into administration.
UK fashion retailers Leading Labels and Quiz have also shut down all remaining stores after falling into liquidation.
Other retailers that have been forced to close stores this year include the likes of River Island and Poundland.
It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
Fellow fashion retailer Evans has also returned to the high street after six years.
The plus-size clothing brand, catering to sizes 14 to 32, closed all stores and concessions in December 2020 after its parent company, Arcadia Group, fell into administration.
The retailer initially shifted to an online-only model before being acquired by AK Retail in 2023, which also owns Yours Clothing and M&Co.
But after a 6-year hiatus, Evans returned to the UK high street.
The plus-size clothing retailer brand is now available in over 50 Yours Clothing stores across the UK and Ireland, including in Liverpool, Swansea, Watford, and Glasgow (Braehead Shopping Centre).
Dedicated Evans sections can now be found in 36 Yours Clothing stores around the UK.
What is your favourite high street fashion retailer? Let us know in the comments.
