After years away from the bustling heart of British retail, Topshop is poised for a dramatic return to the UK High Street in 2026, thanks to a landmark partnership with department store giant John Lewis. The move, announced jointly by both companies, marks a significant shift for the iconic fashion brand that once defined youth culture and shaped the wardrobes of a generation.
Starting in February 2026, Topshop’s new spring collection will hit the shelves of 32 John Lewis stores across the country, with its menswear counterpart, Topman, launching in six of those locations. For many, this comeback is more than just a retail event—it’s a nostalgic revival, sparking memories of Topshop’s heyday in the 1990s and 2000s, when the brand was synonymous with affordable, trendsetting style.
“Customers absolutely want to see us back in stores, and we want to bring that nationwide,” said Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop and Topman, in a statement to BBC News. Her words echo a sentiment felt by many longtime fans who watched the brand disappear from the High Street following a turbulent period that saw the collapse of parent company Arcadia in 2021 and the closure of all UK Topshop stores.
The decline of Topshop was swift and, for some, painful. The brand, once a cornerstone of Sir Philip Green’s retail empire (which also included Burton and Dorothy Perkins), struggled to adapt as shopping habits changed. The rise of online shopping, shifting tastes among its core demographic of teenagers and young adults, and growing concerns about sustainability all contributed to its downfall. When Arcadia went into administration, Topshop’s fate seemed sealed.
But the story didn’t end there. Online retailer Asos swooped in to acquire the Topshop brand, keeping it alive as a digital-only operation. For four years, Topshop existed solely online, with its presence limited to the Asos website and, more recently, a relaunched standalone Topshop site. Then, in September 2024, Asos sold a majority stake to Danish retail tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen, owner of Bestseller and the Heartland investment group, paving the way for the brand’s reinvention.
The first signs of Topshop’s physical revival appeared in London’s upmarket Liberty store, where a small collection was quietly introduced. But the partnership with John Lewis represents Topshop’s first nationwide return to bricks-and-mortar retail since its closure. “It’s the ultimate proof of our strategy: offering the most-loved brands alongside the unwavering trust of our brand promise,” said Peter Ruis, managing director at John Lewis, as reported by Reuters. Ruis emphasized the significance of the collaboration, calling it a "landmark moment" for both companies.
John Lewis, traditionally known for its broad appeal to Britain’s middle classes, is betting that Topshop’s youthful energy will attract a new generation of shoppers while also tapping into the nostalgia of older fans. “We have younger customers—beauty is a classic example of that—and John Lewis is multi-generational, but I think it will bring in more,” Ruis told The Independent. “It will bring more of those ‘family day out’ shoppers and as the only place to go for it, we will hopefully be driving customers who don’t always come through the door, across all age groups.”
Retail consultant Graham Soult called the move "a canny one for both brands," noting that Topshop’s loyal customer base still harbors a strong affection for the label. For John Lewis, he said, the partnership "gets the name out there in a positive way" and could serve as a template for reviving other iconic brands. Bethan Alexander, an associate professor at the London College of Fashion, observed that while the pairing may seem unusual given the brands’ different customer bases, it could prove mutually beneficial—provided Topshop adapts to the new retail landscape. "That traditional shopper is now older and more conscious about their consumption," she told BBC News. "You can't just resurrect the same fast fashion heritage…the customer is different today."
The new Topshop spring collection, curated by John Lewis, will feature 120 pieces, including denim, jackets, and wardrobe staples. According to Peter Ruis, the brand will be given a "prime" in-store position, signaling John Lewis’s commitment to making Topshop a centerpiece of its fashion offering. The retailer has also announced a marketing campaign to coincide with the 100th anniversary of its "Never Knowingly Undersold" price promise, further underscoring its investment in the partnership.
Topshop’s relaunch isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s also about innovation and relevance. The brand celebrated its new direction with a high-profile fashion show in Trafalgar Square in August 2025, where models strutted down the runway in vibrant looks that nodded to Topshop’s heritage while embracing contemporary trends. The event generated buzz and set the stage for the store reopening, demonstrating that Topshop aims to blend its storied past with a fresh vision for the future.
For those eager to shop the new collection in person, Topshop and Topman products will be available at John Lewis stores in major cities across the UK, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leicester, Solihull, Cheltenham, Norwich, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Chelmsford, Bristol, Exeter, Oxford, High Wycombe, Reading, Bluewater, Horsham, Southampton, Brent Cross, Stratford, Canary Wharf, Oxford Street, Peter Jones, White City, and Kingston. The menswear line, Topman, will be stocked in six of these locations.
As the fashion industry continues to evolve, Topshop’s return is being watched closely by both consumers and competitors. The brand faces challenges—adapting to heightened sustainability expectations, appealing to a more diverse and conscious shopper base, and competing in a retail environment still shaped by the pandemic and digital disruption. Yet, if the enthusiasm from both John Lewis and Topshop’s leadership is any indication, there’s a real sense of optimism about what’s to come.
"We want to be back at the forefront of both British fashion and British culture, and our mission is absolutely to bring the best of fashion to everyone," said Michelle Wilson, Topshop’s managing director, as quoted by Reuters. It’s a bold ambition, but one that seems fitting for a brand that, at its peak, was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon.
With its new partnership, curated collections, and a renewed focus on in-store experiences, Topshop is setting the stage for a remarkable comeback—one that just might redefine what it means to be an icon on the British High Street.
