It’s been years since Topshop led British fashion culture – but now, they’re back with a bang. The Mirror got exclusive access to their event, previewing their bold new collection and finding out what’s next
Topshop isn’t just back – it’s here to lead culture again.
It’s been part of ASOS for a while now, hidden among the 800+ brands they sell. But now? They’re stepping forward, reclaiming their spirit with a fresh new energy, kicking things off with their bold new collection in collaboration with Defected Records.
The Mirror got an exclusive first look at the pieces during a private event and spoke directly with the brand’s Managing Director, Michelle Wilson, who shared why now is the perfect time for the comeback, and how this relaunch is much more than clothes – it’s about bringing back a feeling.
READ MORE: Topshop returns to the high street for one day only – here’s everything you need to know
“People want a connection again with a creative brand that’s original,” Michelle told the Mirror. “And that’s what Topshop always stood for – not following trends, but driving them. There’s a gap in the market for that British creative energy again.”
Topshop was never just a high street shop. It was deeper than that – a core part of British culture. Accessible to everyone, yet personal to each. The same piece could be worn five different ways by five different girls, and that was the magic. It wasn’t about chasing trends – it created them.
The late ’90s through to the 2000s is when it gained serious attention, and it continued years on. Topshop wasn’t just a shop, it was a destination. It was where youth, style and identity met. And with the market yearning for that space, they’re carving out the space again – this time louder, prouder and even more connected.
The event felt like a glimpse into the past, taking place in Defected’s East London basement where DJ Olive F kept the energy flowing. But it wasn’t just a showcase – it was a moment.
There was a makeup station, people talking, all captivated by the clothes and culture around them. It instantly brought back memories of Topshop’s Oxford Circus store, where DJs spinning on the shop floor wasn’t unusual – in fact, it was the norm. The space always brought people together, and in that room, for a few hours, it felt like that spirit was alive again.
“We’ve definitely seen an overwhelming response”, said Michelle. “People want to see Topshop back again – and this kind of event is the first step in being able to show everyone, this is what we stand for. This is what the product is about letting everyone kind of touch and feel it again.”
Since Topshop’s absence, there’s a clear gap in the market – not only in fashion, but in feeling. Many brands sell clothes, but not many have captured the cultural pull – the buzz, the energy in the same way they did. There’s been a missing piece, and people are ready for it to return.
But while they will be bringing back the spirit we all remember, they’re not going backwards – but moving forward, leveraging all the great parts of Topshop and bringing that into 2025. But why now?
The brand went into administration, but was quickly snatched up by ASOS early 2021. But being tucked inside the ASOS ecosystem made it easy to miss – the standalone Topshop identity wasn’t front and centre. Now, they want to tell its story and reclaim that space, reminding people what Topshop actually is, because for this brand, it’s never been just about clothes – but beyond that, it’s always been about the feeling.
And while it never truly disappeared, “We’re building into a bigger summer launch moment where we’ll have our own site again,” Michelle said. “We’ll have topshop.com, and we can tell stories and present our product in our own way on a more constant basis than we have been.”
That’s exactly why the collaboration with Defected made sense. “They’re the perfect partner to do this with, working with creatives and across all sorts of parts of the creative industry. This collaboration feels like the perfect embodiment of that.”
“The whole kind of creative energy that’s in London, from a music and artist perspective. Its culture and fashion is the absolute bedrock of culture”, she added.
The customer event takes place today (Saturday, 10 May) in the same Defected basement, and while tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, they are accepting walk-ins between 10am and 6pm – expect shopping, DJs, giveaways and more.
But this is just the beginning, Michelle hinted at bigger plans,” I can’t say this date we’re going to have a Topshop standalone store again, but it’s absolutely top of our agenda to make that happen.”
And with an ever bigger relaunch moment coming in August – including the return of back topshop.com – we can only imagine what will come next. The original design team have stayed on, and if this drop is anything to go by, what’s next will be even better.
And if this event proved anything, it’s that Topshop isn’t just back – it’s filling a space we didn’t realise we missed this much.
READ MORE: Best-selling shoulder bag that looks like Hermes Berkin for £21k less is finally back in stock
Source: Mirror
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