It began with a rumour and ended with a split. josephine wood on a bad day for Topshop |
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London fashion editors may not shop there quite as often as they claim, but Topshop was the subject of fevered conversation yesterday as they ran around the Paris shows.
Was Jane Shepherdson, the most powerful figure in British fashion retail, really quitting her job as brand director of Topshop? And if so, why?
Rumours were flying after the Times reported that Shepherdson had had her nose put out of joint when her flamboyant boss, Sir Philip Green, suddenly announced last month that he was giving Kate Moss a £3m contract to design clothes for Topshop - without "properly" consulting Jane.
Later yesterday it was announced that the most dynamic pairing in fashion retail had indeed split up. Topshop was at pains to say that it was "time for a change" and not |
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| Topshop’s Oxford Street flagship store alone makes £100m a year |
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related to the Moss appointment. "For clarification, Sir Philip and Jane would like to confirm their unanimous agreement to sign a design collaboration with Kate Moss for Topshop, and this has absolutely nothing to do with her decision to leave the business," said a statement issued by Green.
The Monaco-based tycoon makes so much money from Arcadia - Topshop's parent company - that he was able to pay himself a £1.2bn bonus last year.
But it is Shepherdson who is credited with transforming the once tacky store into an outlet that is good value, cool and respected by the fashion elite. The Oxford Street store alone makes £100m a year.
Shepherdson was not available for comment last night. Whatever the truth, her departure comes as Topshop plans more store openings worldwide.
"Jane did a terrific job at creating the Topshop we know today. She's left it in great shape," Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman said in Paris. Yes - and according to yesterday's statement, it's taken two people to replace her. 
FIRST POSTED OCTOBER 6, 2006
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