About Arcadia


With over 2,000 stores throughout the country, the Arcadia Group is the UK’s largest clothing retailer, reaching our customers through eight brands in the UK and a growing number of international stores. There is hardly a high street or shopping centre across the land that isn’t host to one or more of Arcadia’s eight celebrated brands – Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Topshop, Topman and Wallis.

And all of this started with an initial investment of £100…
In 1900, Montague Burton borrowed £100 to set up his own menswear shop. Within 10 years, the business had expanded to a chain of 14 shops, and had introduced the bespoke tailoring operation that was to make Montague Burton a household name.

The First World War gave Burton the opportunity to expand by supplying uniform clothing for nearly a quarter of the armed forces.
In the mid-1940s Burton was estimated to be clothing about one-fifth of the British male population.

When Sir Montague Burton died in 1952, his company was the largest multiples tailor in the world.

In 1946 Burton made its first move into the womenswear market; expansion continued and, in the mid-60s “TOPSHOP” was launched.

The 1970s and 80s saw the Group develop significantly in mainstream clothing retailing by acquiring Evans and Dorothy Perkins. The Group also acquired Debenhams, the largest department store in the UK, which it later emerged from in the late 1990s.

The 1990s saw numerous further brands joining the group including Wallis, Miss Selfridge and Outfit.

Today, Arcadia are comprised of Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Topshop, Topman and Wallis. Each brand targets distinct market segments and many of the brands operate with leading positions in their respective markets. Outfit extends the Group’s portfolio with its out of town format, offering a range of Arcadia and external brands.