Matchesfashion to open standalone Raey store, plans French site

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jan 3, 2017

Designer fashion retailer Matchesfashion is set to open a dedicated standalone boutique for its own fashion brand Raey, in London’s Notting Hill in the spring and is also preparing for a French language site.

Launched in 2015, the brand is designed by Rachel Proud exclusively for Matchesfashion and offers simple, minimalist designs in luxe fabrics for both men and women.

Although Matchesfashion is best known for its digital presence, bringing 1,400 new designer clothes, shoes and accessories to customers around the world each week, the business started as a phsyical store. It currently also operates several multi-brand stores in London, including Marylebone, Notting Hill and Richmond-upon-Thames.

In an interview with The Telegraph, founder and co-chairman Tom Chapman said that physical stores continue to be "essential" for the business, as they act as a showroom and allow customers to try on the clothes.

But around 95% of Matchesfashion’s sales are now online, and there are plans to launch the first Matchesfashion foreign-language site in France next year.

The company, valued at around £300m, has driven a digital-focused expansion in recent years and launched a 90-minute delivery service in London in December. The service is available with a £12 charge, giving customers the option to receive their purchase only 90 minutes after they have placed an order.

The company is owned by its founders Tom and Ruth Chapman, who denied rumours that it is up for sale.