Accessorize
Monsoon Accessorize · United Kingdom
Accessorize is a British fashion accessories retailer that opened its first shop in Covent Garden, London, in 1984, next door to Monsoon. It is one of the two chains of Monsoon Accessorize, whose founder Peter Simon has been reported as owner.
| Founded | 1984 |
|---|---|
| First shop | Covent Garden, London |
| Parent business | Monsoon Accessorize |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Segment | Mass market and fast fashion |
| Sister brand | Monsoon |
| Website | accessorize.com |
What is Accessorize?
Accessorize is a British retailer of fashion accessories, including jewellery, bags and scarves. It operates alongside Monsoon within the company Monsoon Accessorize.
History
The first Accessorize shop opened in 1984 in Covent Garden, London, next door to Monsoon, which Peter Simon had started in 1973. The two brands grew side by side and were listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. Simon paid £185 million to take the company private in 2007.
Monsoon Accessorize entered administration on 10 June 2020 and was acquired out of administration by Simon, aiming to protect up to 4,500 jobs in the supply chain. Later ownership details differ between sources, so this profile limits itself to the reported position that Simon is the owner.
Business model and distribution
Accessorize sells through its own stores, its website and wholesale and partner arrangements. In the UK many shops have traded as joint Monsoon and Accessorize stores, and some Irish stores closed in 2020. Landlords agreed rent cuts across a large part of the store estate in 2019, part of a wider restructuring of the group.
Leadership
Peter Simon and Nick Stowe jointly took the chief executive role in 2019. Current 2026 leadership could not be verified from the sources consulted.
Why it matters
Accessorize is one of the longest-running specialist accessories chains on the UK high street. It is a useful reference for how a category specialist can share a store estate with a sister brand to cut costs.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Accessorize?
Accessorize is part of Monsoon Accessorize. Peter Simon, the founder of Monsoon, has been reported as the owner since the 2020 purchase out of administration.
Where is Accessorize from?
Accessorize is from the United Kingdom. Its first shop opened in Covent Garden, London, in 1984.