Ted Baker has reemerged on the UK high street with a new shop-in-shop located at Selfridges Manchester Trafford. The boutique concession showcases a curated selection of fashion, accessories, and lifestyle items, emphasizing summer designs and prints.
Describing the space as more akin to the walk-in wardrobe of the quintessential Ted woman rather than a traditional shop floor, Ted Baker offers standout pieces such as the Rasher Printed Ottoman Mini Dress (£179), the Antya Textured Puff Sleeve Mini Dress (£229), and chic tailored separates like the Ambita Tailored Blazer (£299) paired with the Platy Front Pleat Wide Leg Trousers (£179).
Following the administration of No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), the company operating Ted Baker’s UK stores, in March 2024, all 46 stores were closed by August 2024. Originally launched as a menswear brand in 1988, Ted Baker expanded to 550 outlets globally at its peak, employing approximately 975 individuals before its downfall.
The intellectual property rights for Ted Baker remain under the ownership of US firm Authentic Brands Group, which acquired the brand for £211 million in October 2022. Subsequently, the Ted Baker website was relaunched in November 2024 after Authentic Brands Group struck a deal with United Legwear and Apparel Co (ULAC) to oversee the brand’s online operations in the UK and Europe.
ULAC, already a partner for Ted Baker in the US and Canada, holds additional collaborations with prominent brands like Skechers, Puma North America, Scotch & Soda, and DKNY. Ted Baker joins the ranks of retailers returning to the high street, with Claire’s reportedly planning to open 50 new stores shortly after shuttering its 154 UK locations.
Despite Kroll administrators announcing the closures and subsequent redundancies of around 1,300 employees, Claire’s revival seems imminent as Julien Jarjoura, the operator of its shops in various European countries, signals plans to reopen several UK stores on a weekly basis starting from June. Mr. Jarjoura, who operates numerous Claire’s stores in Europe and attempted to acquire the brand earlier this year, is self-funding the new stores, promising revamped offerings including ear-piercing services and a range of jewelry and accessories priced from £1.90 upwards.
Expressing confidence in the brand’s revival, Mr. Jarjoura stated, “The brand was basically dead, and we’re bringing it back to life.”
