New owner Bluewell plans to revive fashion label Horrockses

A CHESHIRE businessman is behind plans to revive the 1950s women’s
fashion brand Horrockses.

Ian Hellens, managing director of Crewe-based business change
management consultancy Project One, is the sole director of Bluewell
Ventures, which has acquired the Horrockses brand for an undisclosed six-figure sum.

The assets were sold to Bluewell by Metis Partners on behalf of KPMG, the  administrators of Dawson International Holdings (UK) Ltd.
 
At the peak of its popularity Horrockses dresses were worn by the Queen and Princess Margaret as well as stars such as Joan Collins and Dinah Sheridan.

Original Horrockses garments, which were made in Preston, remain uniquely popular and change hands for hundreds of pounds on online auction sites.
 
Bluewell Ventures was advised by Robert Loveday of Manchester-based 
LLM Solicitors.
 
Bluewell plans to embark on a major roll-out of the brand, with a domestic and international licensing strategy that will see Horrockses trading across a number of trade mark classes and territories.
 
A spokesman said: “Bluewell is delighted to have gained control of such a
remarkable brand. The potential for Horrockses is truly international, with
excellent prospects as a lifestyle brand across fashion and home.

“We are  looking forward to regaining the consumer’s attention for this wonderful expression of British fashion style and flair.”
 
Nat Baldwin, of Metis Partners in Glasgow, who co-ordinated the sale, said: “This  brand was a foundation stone of Britain’s fashion and lifestyle heritage and it is most gratifying to know that it will be returning to High Street and online stores around the world.”

Horrockses was established in 1946 as a subsidiary of Horrockses Crewdson & Company, the Preston-based cotton manufacturing business founded in 1791.

Under its most recent ownership Horrockses focused on home textiles for kitchens and bedrooms.