Ted Baker has returned to the UK high street by opening a new shop-in-shop at Selfridges Manchester Trafford. The boutique section showcases a thoughtfully curated selection of fashion, accessories, and lifestyle items, with a particular emphasis on summer-themed designs and patterns.
The Ted Baker space is described as resembling less of a traditional retail floor and more like the closet of the quintessential Ted woman. Notable items on display include the Rasher Printed Ottoman Mini Dress priced at £179, the Antya Textured Puff Sleeve Mini Dress at £229, and chic separates like the Ambita Tailored Blazer for £299 paired with the Platy Front Pleat Wide Leg Trousers at £179.
Following the administration of No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL) – the company operating Ted Baker’s UK stores – in March 2024, all 46 outlets were shut down by August 2024. Ted Baker, originally established as a menswear brand in 1988, once boasted a network of 550 stores and concessions worldwide, with nearly 975 employees before its collapse.
The intellectual property rights for Ted Baker are currently held by US firm Authentic Brands Group, which acquired the brand for £211million in October 2022. The Ted Baker website relaunched in November 2024 under a new agreement with United Legwear and Apparel Co (ULAC) to oversee its online operations in the UK and Europe.
ULAC, already managing Ted Baker’s presence in the US and Canada, has collaborations with various renowned brands like Skechers, Puma North America, Scotch & Soda, and DKNY. Ted Baker’s return to the high street mirrors a trend as Claire’s reportedly plans to reopen 50 new stores shortly after closing all 154 of its UK locations.
Kroll administrators announced the closures, resulting in around 1,300 job losses. However, recent reports from the Guardian suggest that Claire’s may start reopening four to 10 stores weekly from June onwards, with Julien Jarjoura, the operator of its European outlets, negotiating new leases with UK landlords.
Mr. Jarjoura plans to self-fund the new stores, maintaining ear-piercing services while introducing revamped jewelry and accessories ranging from £1.90 to over £100. He commented to the Guardian, stating, “The brand was essentially dormant, and we’re reviving it.”
