The British retail group Frasers Group Plc is said to have acquired the independent men’s clothing retailer John Anthony for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 1979, John Anthony has steadily expanded its branch network and now operates five stores in various cities in southern England.
The offering includes “culturally significant brands” in the men’s fashion category, including Stone Island, Y-3, Comme Des Garcons, Dries Van Noten and Salomon.
The takeover by Frasers, first reported by business magazine Drapers, comes as Frasers looks to further expand its presence in the premium retail market.
Such efforts were already seen in 2020, when Frasers acquired shares in Mulberry and Hugo Boss as part of an elevation strategy to reposition the company in an upscale class.
Since then, however, the strategy appears to be focused on more aggressive and expansive portfolio expansion.
The group has made a series of acquisitions in the past year, snapping up smaller or struggling rivals such as Manchester-based fast fashion company I Saw it First, as well as buying stakes in companies such as Asos and Boohoo.
This translated article previously appeared on FashionUnited.com