Topshop accelerates high street return with John Lewis pop-ups as soon as next week

We already knew Topshop would be coming back to the high street in a deal with John Lewis, but we didn’t know how fast it would happen.

When the partnership was announced a little while ago, the two flagged a February debut but now ASOS (which still part-owns and fully manages Topshop) has said it’s launching pop-ups in John Lewis as early as 3 November.

Why the rush? Well, ASOS said Topshop is “responding to demand from eager fans” ahead of the full launch later in 32 John Lewis stores.

The pop-ups won’t be in all 32 branches, however. Instead, Topshop will be available in four stores across the country with pop-ups taking centre stage on the womenswear floor of John Lewis’s London Oxford Street flagship, plus the Bristol, Leeds, and Liverpool stores.

Each pop-up will feature a curated selection of around 30 “fashion-forward pieces, changing weekly. Expect statement outerwear, iconic denim, cult knits and must-have partywear”. For those who can’t get to the stores, it will all be available via the John Lewis app too.

The company said that to celebrate its residency, the first 100 customers in each store will receive a Topshop tote bag, with further giveaways planned throughout the six-week takeover. 

And fitting with Topshop’s Oxford Circus flagship history, the John Lewis Oxford Street Topshop pop-up will host weekly DJ Sessions every Thursday evening from 13 November. Each week, a guest DJ will be “bringing live music and energy to shoppers in-store”.

ASOS certainly can’t be accused of going low-key with this Topshop revival having already staged a runway takeover of Trafalgar Square and opened in a space in upmarket department store Liberty. And it seems to be paying off so far. 

Michelle Wilson, MD of Topshop, said: “We’ve seen an incredible response to Topshop’s return, and we know our customers are excited to shop the brand in person again. By taking our Winter and Party collections beyond London, the Topshop pop-ups bring our signature energy and style to locations across the UK, just in time for the festive season.”

Running through to Christmas, the pop-ups offer a seasonal snapshot of Topshop’s collection, and include “elevated essentials”, as well as “directional denim and statement pieces that channel the brand’s unmistakable attitude”.

Rachel Morgans, director of fashion at John Lewis, added that the retailer has been “listening to how excited [customers] are for Topshop’s return, so as their sole nationwide partner, this felt like the perfect moment for a ‘teaser’ pop-up. It’s an exciting glimpse of what’s to come next year”.

As mentioned, in February, the brand will launch in 32 John lewis stores, with Topman being available in six of them.