Phase Eight

Phase Eight is a British women's fashion brand founded in 1979 by Patsy Seddon, a boutique founder. It has been owned since 2015 by South Africa's TFG, formerly The Foschini Group.

What is Phase Eight?

Phase Eight is a London-based womenswear brand best known for dresses, occasionwear and contemporary workwear, sold through stores, department store concessions and online.

History

According to Wikipedia, Patsy Seddon opened a small boutique on Wandsworth Common in 1979. The name combines her maiden name, P. Hayes, with the address of the first shop, 8 Bellevue Road. By 2014 the brand had 106 stores and 207 concessions in the UK, plus 18 stores and 128 concessions abroad. In 2013 it opened four stores in Switzerland and seven concessions in Germany.

Ownership

The Foschini Group, now TFG, acquired Phase Eight in 2015 from TowerBrook Capital Partners, in a deal valuing the business at £300 million according to Wikipedia. Phase Eight was TFG's first UK acquisition; Whistles followed in March 2016 and Hobbs in 2017. We have not found a report of any later change of ownership.

Business model and distribution

Concessions in department stores are central to the model, alongside owned stores and e-commerce. The 2014 figures above are historic and should not be read as current counts.

Why it matters

Phase Eight anchors TFG's UK womenswear group, and its acquisition marked the start of a wave of overseas buying of British premium brands.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Phase Eight?

Phase Eight is owned by South Africa's TFG, formerly The Foschini Group, which acquired it in 2015 from TowerBrook Capital Partners.

Where is Phase Eight from?

Phase Eight is a British brand. Patsy Seddon founded it in 1979 with a boutique on Wandsworth Common in London.

All brands