
Julian Dunkerton has been fortunate to enjoy more than 35 years of successful clothing industry growth from a start-up to a globally recognized brand in Superdry.
His first foray into fashion retail was at the age of 19, when he used a government-backed enterprise scheme to set up his own clothing business. In 1985 Julian started Cult Clothing, his first nationwide fashion chain which quickly grew to around £20 million turnover.
Spotting a massive shift in the marketplace and the opportunities of vertical retailing, he founded Superdry in 2003, a brand that combines an appreciation for British tailoring, a love of vintage Americana and an eye for Japanese imagery. Starting with a collection of just five t-shirts, the brand flourished, and Superdry became a British success story recognized all over the world.
Seven years later, at a time when many others were looking to private equity for financing, he led the float of Superdry on the London Stock Exchange, which valued the company at £400m. Julian is proud that the business is publicly listed in the UK and he remains the largest shareholder.
After stepping down as CEO to concentrate on product design in 2015, he returned as CEO four years later to lead the charge to fulfil Superdry’s global potential, with the same energy and excitement he has always had for the business.
Today Superdry operates through [740] branded locations in [61] countries, including [241] owned stores across the UK, mainland Europe and the US.
Sustainability has always been an integral part of the growth of Superdry and Julian and the brand are more focused than ever on making Superdry the most sustainable listed fashion brand.