Topshop Brand Director Jane Shepherdson, feted as
one of the most powerful women in fashion, has quit, the chain's owner said on
Thursday, denying reports her exit was due to a row over supermodel Kate Moss.
Sir Philip Green, billionaire owner of the Arcadia retail group that includes
Topshop, said in a statement Shepherdson had resigned after deciding it was
"time for a change".
He denied Shepherdson, who is credited with turning the fast-fashion house
into a brand worn by stars and trendy teenagers alike, was leaving because of a
deal signed last month to have Moss design a Topshop range.
"For clarification, Sir Philip and Jane would like to confirm their unanimous
agreement to sign a design collaboration with Kate Moss for Topshop, and this
has absolutely nothing to do with her decision to leave the business," Green
said in a statement.
Topshop announced its design deal with Moss, for an undisclosed sum, to a
fanfare of publicity last month, with Green saying he aimed to turn clothes
created by the supermodel into a global brand.
Fashion press welcomed it as success for Moss, giving her a new platform to a
new career outside modelling, and for Shepherdson, who turned a cheap high
street chain into a fashion brand by rapidly replicating catwalk styles at
discount prices.
Britain's The Times reported on Thursday Shepherdson was in last-ditch talks
with Green after complaining that she was not consulted properly over the hiring
of Moss.
Green, denying the report, told Reuters he and Shepherdson had been
discussing her departure for a number of weeks. He said he was not aware of her
future plans. Two Topshop veterans will be taking over her role.
Shepherdson, described as the most important woman in UK fashion by industry
journal Drapers, was not immediately reachable.
But fashion editors, many in Paris for fashion week there, were already
mulling Topshop's future without its star director and if her loss will weaken
in its race against fast-fashion rivals like Hennes and Mauritz and Zara.
"Jane did a terrific job at creating the Topshop we know today. She's left it
in great shape for the team and whoever new comes in to take it on to another
phase," British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman said from Paris.
Topshop is the crown jewel in Green's Arcadia group, which he bought for
?￡800 million in 2002. He has had plans to expand the group to the United States
next year, although he told Reuters on Thursday nothing was yet on the drawing
board.
