The Fashion Millionaires RIch List 2013

The Sunday Times Rich List 2013 shows us just how much money revolves around clothing outlets and the individuals or families that own them.  I was frankly amazed to see the ratings for the fashion millionaires:

1. George Weston and family - Selfridges, Primark, £6.65bn.

2. Sir Philip and Lady Green- Arcadia Company  £3.88bn.

3. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay - Littlewoods, £2.35bn.

4. Mike Ashley - Sports Direct, Sportsworld, £2.3bn

5. Bernard Lewis and family - River Island, £1.25bn

6. Stephen Rubin and family - JD Sports Fashion, Speedo, Berghaus, £1.12bn

7. John Hargreaves and family - Matalan, £1bn

8= Richard Caring - International Clothing Design, £700m

8= Christina Ong and family - Mulberry, £700m

10 David Bromilow - Adidas, £650m

Primark, Littlewoods, Matalan?  Who would have guessed – certainly not me.  Does this mean that the consumer continues to purchase cheap disposable fashion, choosing quantity over quality, or do most of us have so much less in our purses that there seems to be no option?  I have never understood how Primark has managed to produce clothes at such low costs and in such quantity.  Stock definitely turns around quickly and I wonder what happens to all those garments that aren’t purchased?  And how will the terrible recent factory collapse in India impact on the company?  Will they be investing more positively in the communities which supply their clothing and, if this means an increase in price point, will the customer continue to support them?  I was equally astonished to see Selfridges alongside Primark – this seems an incredible contrast in markets and quality of goods.