UK's River Island to present exclusively in France for the first time

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jun 2, 2015

British retailer River Island, founded in 1948 in its first iteration as "Lewis Separates", is about to unveil a collection in France, brought to us exclusively by French PR agency Univers Presse.

The company is currently only present in France online, but it wouldn't be going too far to say that if French interest in the British high street brand continues to mount, it is likely that the brand will set up permanent shop somewhere in the country.

River Island first launched its French online store in 2013. The retailer has over 350 stores worldwide, and localised e-sites in France, US, Germany and Australia. Swedish and Dutch sites are also launching soon.

"Our objective is to build a substantial presence in a number of international markets, whilst taking a flexible approach elsewhere. We currently ship to over 100 countries online and have stores in Western Europe, South Africa, Philippines and the Middle East," River Island said.

Though it says it currently no plans to open stores in France, River Island did say that it is always on the lookout for exciting opportunities in key cities within the market. "Our customer base in France is growing rapidly, allowing us to deliver head to toe fashion solutions to stylish French girls and guys across the country. We recognise the French market’s interest in contemporary British fashion brands and believe our fresh and original offering of smart casual wear will inspire and delight the French consumer," the company stated.

Asked about its overall ambitions, River Island stated that its goal is to become a leading multimarket, multichannel fashion brand for the mid-priced market. "Guided by a clear set of brand values, we have a unique and compelling style. Like our customers, we are always on the lookout for the next must-have item," the company concluded.

River Island already has a significant store presence in Europe, with five stores in the Netherlands, one in Belgium and one in Sweden. The retailer also ships to over 100 stores online. In the UK, River Island is a sponsor of Graduate Fashion Week and also supports young designers through its River Island Design Forum.