Business
Topshop returns to the high street, but can it get its cool back?
Karwai Tang/WireImage)For teenage girls like me in the 2000s and 2010s, going into a Topshop store was like being transported into a fantasy world.
There was music! Makeup! And fashion! All under one roof – with Topshop clothes often found on the pages of Vogue alongside high-end couture.
But somewhere along the way, things went wrong.
“Topshop lost its cool,” said fashion journalist Amber Graafland.
“And when that happens, it’s hard. Fashion is a fickle beast, people move on quickly.”
Then in 2020, its owner, Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group, collapsed. All of Topshop’s physical stores shut soon after.
But Topshop is now launching a major comeback.
Standalone stores are returning to the High Street, Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop and Topman, confirmed to BBC News.
And on Saturday, Topshop is hosting its first catwalk show for seven years in Trafalgar Square. We’ve been told long-time brand muse model Cara Delevingne will be there.
It seems absence (and nostalgia) makes the heart grow fonder. As rumours of Topshop’s imminent return have been met by a wave of affection on social media, particularly among millennials and Gen-Z.
But industry experts say it will take more than nostalgia to make Topshop 2.0 a success.
‘They need to entice younger girls’
ShutterstockOne of the challenges that Topshop will face is attracting a new wave of shoppers through the doors.
Its previous core following are now women in their late 20s and 30s, but it can’t just rely on them, says Graafland.
“They will need to work hard to entice younger girls in,” she said.
What might help, though, is the nostalgia trend that has taken over social media feeds and High Streets in recent months (Joni jeans, anyone?)
Topshop’s team, for their part, think they can attract both older and newer groups.
“We want to deliver for those that are nostalgic for a brand that they felt like they lost,” Wilson said.
“But we absolutely want to appeal to a new demographic as well.”
Then, there’s the fashion. For me, shopping in Topshop as a teenager made me feel like the ‘it girl’.
On Saturdays, you’d breeze through racks to find the one item that justified taking money out of your barely-there bank balance.
When you bought it, you’d act nonchalant. “Oh this old thing? It’s from Topshop,” you’d tell your school friends, as if you could afford it all the time.
And I wasn’t the only one. Huge crowds would throng to the London landmark store to witness the launch of new ranges from A-listers like Beyoncé and Kate Moss.
Getty ImagesIn the 90s and 00s, designers “used to laugh at High Street fashion”, said Wayne Hemingway, a designer and co-founder of Red or Dead.
“They couldn’t keep up with the trends. Topshop was the only one that did.”
Hemingway, who worked with Topshop through its heyday, said a large part of its success was down to the team behind it, including Jane Shepherdson, its hugely influential brand director.
“They brought in second hand clothes for example, that’s normal now, but back then it was seen as absolutely radical to have a shopping department store doing that,” he said.
“You had the collaborations, the London Fashion Walk catwalk, all this design and excitement at High Street prices. It was so fresh, everyone wanted to be part of it.”
But over time, what people were looking for changed – and Topshop didn’t always keep up, said Graafland.
“They offered that unique London look. Then the girls who shopped there grew up, and they didn’t want that look anymore,” she said.
“You cannot afford to take your finger off pulse for one minute in fashion.”
She added that Topshop 2.0 would benefit from the fact its core aesthetic – the London girl look – is back in style, and that not many other retailers are offering it.
“If you look at the High Street now, there’s a strong Spanish presence, with the likes of Zara, and also a Swedish presence with H&M. When Arcadia collapsed, we lost that Britishness,” she said.
She added that a lot of the High Street is “playing it safe right now”, and that could also work in Topshop’s favour if can “get that cool edge back”.
Topshop’s team is confident that it can still win over shoppers with its trademark London-based swagger.
“We still think there’s a huge gap in the market for that,” Wilson said.
“The most important thing that we won’t forget, and maybe got forgotten about towards the end of the previous era, is that product is everything.
“It has to be the best quality product, the most fashionable product for our customer base, and bringing that at good value.”
And then there are the prices
Getty ImagesTopshop’s popularity peaked in the heady years before the cost of living crisis. Its team are aware of the stiff competition it now faces.
A pair of Topshop jeans will easily set you back about £50. Chinese fast fashion giant Shein offers them for about £17.
“If we’re just comparing Shein, then yes, I think most brands on the planet are at a higher price point than Shein,” Wilson said.
But she added: “We know that when we offer great fashion and great value for money then the product does sell very well, so absolutely no concerns about that to be honest.”
While Topshop might not churn out new pieces at the breakneck speed of its online-only rivals, in the past, it’s still faced questions over its environmental record.
For younger shoppers, this can be an important factor in deciding where to go.
Wilson, however, indicates the higher prices reflect a more sustainable model.
The firm’s focus, she said, is very much “on the livelihoods of people within the supply chain that we partner with and also the environmental impacts of the brand”.
‘There’s got to be a buzz around it’
PA MediaAfter Sir Green’s retail empire collapsed, the Topshop brand was bought by Asos.
You can still buy the items online on their website – but now, in-store shopping is coming back.
Topshop’s return to the High Street starts this month, with products set to be available to buy in certain stores.
But of course, the real interest is in the standalone stores which Wilson said are “definitely” coming back.
She wouldn’t give a date for their return, but said the aim was to open stores across the nation.
Topshop is choosing to relaunch at a time when the High Street continues to struggle. Just days ago, fashion accessories chain Claire’s collapsed into administration.
But Wilson said lessons have been learnt after what happened to Topshop 1.0.
“We’re just making sure we do it in the right way so that we don’t over-expand ourselves,” she said.
As for the stores themselves, it remains to be seen if they’ll have the same vibe as before.
For me, it was where I met friends after school, tried on eye shadow for the first time, and listened to DJs pumping out dance music.
In some stores you were able to order skinny caramel lattes, get your hair and nails done, and maybe even get a piercing or two if your mum wasn’t watching.
“Fashion is only part of the story. It’s about selling a lifestyle and an experience,” Graafland said. “There’s got to be that buzz around it.”
Topshop’s team say they won’t necessarily be replicating what it used to do, but rather, “finding ways to bring that into 2025 and do interesting things”.
Overall, the hopes are high.
“They will get the girls to the stores, I don’t doubt it,” Graafland said.
“The question is whether they can keep them there.”
Business
India’s voluntary carbon market gains ground as net-zero goals drive ecosystem buildup – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: With Climate action gaining momentum as part of India’s net-zero commitment by 2070, the country’s carbon market is beginning to take shape and gain momentum. Homegrown institutions such as the Carbon Registry of India (CRI) are emerging as important enablers for the voluntary carbon market offering platforms to register and track carbon projects, even as corporates and developers scale up efforts around offsets, credits, and trading in line with evolving global frameworks. While the regulatory framework is still in the development stage across many industries, India is leading the development of platforms for listing of voluntary carbon projects in South Asia, creating implementation partners, enabling trading of credits and audit process — all to to align the processes with international standards having an end-to-end setup. “The carbon market today is split into two clear paths,” says Priya Bahirwani, co-founder of Terrablu Climate Technologies, a carbon project developer with proprietary carbon accounting, offsetting and trading platform. “The compliance market is regulation-led and has different levers and framework within which it operates. But the voluntary carbon market is where intent shows up, where companies invest for credibility, brand and long-term responsibility.” It is this voluntary market that is now steering the path and driving the momentum in India for a climate-driven economy. This market is driven by corporates looking to go beyond compliance and are committed to demonstrating real climate impact and social impact – Indian Carbon for Global Markets. CRI (a public-private registry) and other such reputed organisations are building the ecosystem in a sustainable manner. Especially companies like Varaha, Terrablu, NextNow Green (NNG), and other entities are slowly but steadily building the momentum for a climate resilient economy in India. From large conglomerates to mid-sized firms, companies are increasingly investing in carbon credits not just to meet regulatory norms, but to build long-term brand credibility and stakeholder trust. The is the just the beginning of new wave of building a climate resilient economy. CRI helps companies register and formalise their carbon projects in a standardised format. For India, this shift represents a strategic move — from being a supply-side participant to shaping the rules of the market itself. “Carbon markets will only scale on the foundation of trust, transparency, and traceability. With its depth in innovation and resilience, India is well placed to lead this evolution.,” says Richard Bright, CEO of CRI. CRI, he adds, is focused on building a credible domestic bridge between Indian climate projects and global demand, while leveraging digital frameworks to improve transparency, traceability and access. Companies listed on the CRI for carbon projects include Sahyadri Farms, Piplantri FPO, L&T Metro and others are in the pipeline, says Bright. Terrablu’s Bahirwani says India should not just generate carbon credits, but also own the platforms that certify them. “CRI is creating that opportunity, and we are already seeing increasing interest from corporates in sourcing credits listed on such platforms.” Companies such as NNG, which is a carbon consultancy and ecosystem implementation partner, believes that as India moves from a voluntary to a rules- and penalties-based setup in carbon, companies will increasingly work on carbon and climate strategies to strengthen their play in the area. “We are already seeing efforts in this regard. There are enquiries about how to go about carbon projects, how to carry out assessment and audit of current work, and how to work out credits and even offset them, or trade them, across diverse sectors including agriculture and industrial decarbonisation,” says NNG’s Archana Raha. This push is also being reinforced by ecosystem players such as legal frameworks to project developers. They see value in strengthening India’s own carbon market architecture. “Global registries will continue to play a role, but India needs trusted domestic platforms as well,” says Vishnu Sudarsan, senior partner at law firm JSA. “Platforms like CRI provide visibility and credibility within the Indian ecosystem, which is critical as the market matures, supported by robust, dual-layer governance structures that reinforce transparency and accountability,” Sudarsan adds. On the ground, this shift is already taking shape through projects that are choosing to align with India’s emerging carbon infrastructure. Take Piplantri as an example. It is a model that goes beyond carbon to integrate afforestation, water conservation and community livelihoods. By listing on CRI, stakeholders are signalling a clear intent to prioritise transparency, traceability and alignment with India’s evolving climate ecosystem. The market is gradually maturing as reputed and credible market players with sophistication and focus are shaping the ecosystem . The decision reflects a broader trend. Project developers and intermediaries are increasingly working with platforms like CRI and CCTS, supported by ecosystem players such as Terrablu and implementation partners like NNG. Alongside them, credible validation and verification bodies — including KBS certification, 4K Earth Science, VKU Certification and others — are empanelled with CRI, strengthening the integrity and credibility of the overall ecosystem, and helping create a more locally anchored yet globally credible carbon market framework. Experts say that India’s emerging carbon ecosystem is beginning to offer answers through creation of stronger platforms, better verification, and tighter integration across the value chain. “The direction is clear: India is not just participating in the global carbon market but it is leading the market for other emerging economies,” says Sudarsan. It is believed that with the foundation for the climate economy coming in place, India is well poised to become a hub for high-integrity carbon solutions.
Co-op chair Debbie White said: “We thank Shirine for her leadership and for the significant contribution she has made to our Co-op, to our communities and to the co-operative movement during her tenure. The Board is grateful for her commitment and leadership, particularly during a challenging few years, and we wish her every success in the future.”
Air travel is all set to become highly expensive as the airlines are indicating at doubling the air ticket prices following a whopping increase in jet fuel rate.
The jet fuel price has rocketed to Rs417 from Rs388 per litre in Pakistan and the airlines have started to increase the airfares through enhancing fuel surcharge rates.
The airlines maintained the basic fare but added the fuel price surge into the fuel surcharge.
The one-way fare from Karachi to Islamabad and Lahore has shot up to Rs40,000 while air travel on chance seats for Islamabad and Lahore has soared by 150 percent.
Accordingly, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has boosted the airfares by 10 to 100 dollars.
Domestic flights will now carry additional $10 fuel surcharge which on Canada routes extra $100 will be received as fuel charge.
Passengers on UK-bound flights to pay 75 dollars additional surcharge while 50 dollars will be received on Middle East routes.
Private airlines have gone a step ahead as they enforced charging additional 15 dollars to 150 dollars on different routes.
The airlines were under pressure after closure of many air routes with the airlines administrations are saying that extraordinary rise in airfares has become inevitable.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan fuel NOTAM forced foreign airlines to tanker Jet A-1 fuel from abroad and limit uplift at Karachi and Lahore airports.
The Pakistan Airports Authority issued the order to protect local supplies amid supply disruptions.
Foreign carriers now arrive with enough fuel for their return flights while Pakistani airlines receive full requirements.
This change hit operations on March 25 when one Karachi-to-Doha flight diverted to Muscat.
The Pakistan fuel NOTAM A0147/26 took effect on March 13 and runs through March 31 2026. It targets Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
Airlines follow the rule and carry maximum fuel on inbound legs. Officials confirm foreign airlines get only the minimum quantity inside Pakistan.
Pakistan fuel NOTAM creates immediate changes on the ground. Foreign airlines offload passenger baggage and cargo to stay within weight limits.
The extra fuel adds weight that reduces payload capacity on every affected flight.
According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the PAA, the supply of aviation fuel at domestic airports has been significantly curtailed due to regional supply chain disruptions, advising international carriers to maximize their fuel “uplift” at foreign stations and minimize refuelling within Pakistan.
The directive has already begun to impact international flight schedules.
Ukrainian apparel imports rise 6.39% amid sharp structural shift
India’s voluntary carbon market gains ground as net-zero goals drive ecosystem buildup – The Times of India
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