{{Short description|Fashion brand based in London, England}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = LK Bennett | logo = | caption = | type = Private company | traded_as = | genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies --> | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1990}} | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founder = Linda Bennett | defunct = <!-- {{End date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | location_city = London | location_country = England | locations = 9 in total. United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United States | area_served = | key_people = Linda Bennett | industry = Fashion design and retail | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies --> | assets = | equity = | owner = Gordon Brothers | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|lkbennett.com}} | footnotes = | intl = }}
'''LK Bennett''' is a British luxury fashion brand based in London, England. The company sells ready-to-wear collections incorporating clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories.
==History== [[File:LK Bennet in Winchester High Street - geograph.org.uk - 1539843.jpg|thumb|right|260px|LK Bennett store in Winchester, Hampshire]] Linda Bennett set up the first LK Bennett shop in Wimbledon Village in 1990,<ref name=observer>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/nov/21/theobserver.observerbusiness13|title=Sole trader takes a step back|author=Sarah Ryle|date=2004-11-21|newspaper=The Observer|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810182409/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/nov/21/theobserver.observerbusiness13|archivedate=2014-08-10|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref> with a goal to produce "something in-between the designer footwear you find in Bond Street and those on the high street".<ref name=indep>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/linda-bennett-queen-of-the-kitten-heel-walks-tall-among-britains-business-leaders-561766.html|title=Linda Bennett, queen of the kitten heel, walks tall among Britain's business leaders|author=Arifa Akbar|date=2004-04-30|newspaper=The Independent|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718004350/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/linda-bennett-queen-of-the-kitten-heel-walks-tall-among-britains-business-leaders-561766.html|archivedate=2018-07-18|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref> The company’s success led Bennett to earn the nickname "Queen of the Kitten Heel.”<ref name=observer /><ref name=indep />
In 1998 Bennett created her first ready-to-wear collection and started overseas expansion, opening a boutique in Paris in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/celebrity-fashion/kate-middleton-lk-bennett-outfits-10019637|title=All of Kate Middleton's LK Bennett dresses, jackets, shoes and accessories over the years|author=Danielle Stacey|date=2017-12-06|newspaper=Daily Mirror|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212194225/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/celebrity-fashion/kate-middleton-lk-bennett-outfits-10019637|archivedate=12 December 2017|accessdate=2018-07-21|url-status=live}}</ref> She then opened stores and concessions in Spain, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, including in-store concessions in chains including Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, John Lewis, Fenwick, Printemps, and Galeries Lafayette.
In November 2004, Bennett appointed BDO Stoy Hayward to find strategic investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/lk-bennett-seeks-outside-investors-533304.html|title=LK Bennett seeks outside investors|author=Susie Mesure|date=2004-11-15|newspaper=The Independent|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721074116/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/lk-bennett-seeks-outside-investors-533304.html|archivedate=2018-07-21|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref> Bennett sold a 70% stake in the business in 2008 to Phoenix Equity Partners and Sirius Equity, a retail and branded luxury goods investment company, in a deal believed to have netted her around £100m.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/424553/Fashion-chain-LK-Bennett-to-be-sold-for-a-princely-sum|title=Fashion chain LK Bennett to be sold for a princely sum|author=Ravender Sembhy|date=2013-08-25|newspaper=Daily Express|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref> Bennett remained on the board of the company as a non-executive director, and retained a stake of about 30 per cent.
In April 2017 the brand announced that Linda Bennett would be returning to its helm with a focus on product and brand development.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} In September 2017 she bought out the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/lk-bennett-founder-buys-out-the-business/7025951.article|title=LK Bennett founder buys out the business|author=Pui-Guan Man|date=2017-09-13|work=Drapers|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913150815/https://www.drapersonline.com/news/lk-bennett-founder-buys-out-the-business/7025951.article|archivedate=2017-09-13|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref>
As of June 2018, the company had 130 stores globally. Online sales made up 33% of total sales, stores 61%, and wholesale 6%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/exclusive-lk-bennett-sales-and-profits-fall/7030769.article|title=Exclusive: LK Bennett sales and profits fall|author=Jill Geoghegan|work=Drapers|date=2018-06-12|accessdate=2018-07-21}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
The company went into administration on 7 March 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47488854|title=Retailer LK Bennett goes into administration |work=BBC News|date=7 March 2019|accessdate=7 March 2019}}</ref> It was reported that up to 500 jobs could be at risk as administrators EY closed five outlets on being appointed, two in London as well as the stores in Sheffield, Bristol, and Liverpool. On 12 April 2019 LK Bennett was bought out of administration, saving 325 jobs.
However, 15 of the retailer's stores are not included in the deal and will close, leading to the loss of 110 jobs.
In November 2018, LK Bennett launched a new US website in USD, and a site in Euros supporting 29 European countries.
In March 2019, LK Bennett was bought by Byland UK.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Rob |date=7 March 2019 |title=LK Bennett fashion chain collapses into administration |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/07/lk-bennett-fashion-chain-collapses-into-administration-fail-find-financial-backer |accessdate=7 March 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
In December 2025, it was widely reported that the company was being put up for sale.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-20 |title=LK Bennett up for sale six years after rescue by Hong Kong investors |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/lk-bennett-up-for-sale-after-rescue-by-hong-kong-investors-f8qt2nj87 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2026, the company has been purchased out of administration by Gordon Brothers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-28 |title=Poundland owner buys LK Bennett out of administration |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/poundland-owner-buys-lk-bennett-out-of-administration-zrprjlj0n |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
==In popular culture== In April 2018, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd declared that Britain's application system for EU nationals who want to remain in the UK after Brexit should be "as easy as setting up an online account at LK Bennett".<ref>{{cite news|title=Rudd says online EU registration will be 'as easy as shopping at LK Bennett'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/23/amber-rudd-online-eu-registration-system-lk-bennett|date=2018-04-23|newspaper=The Guardian|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704091331/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/23/amber-rudd-online-eu-registration-system-lk-bennett|archivedate=2018-07-04|accessdate=2018-07-21}}</ref>
It has been widely reported that the Catherine, Princess of Wales was a fan of the company's products.<ref name=":0" />
==See also== * List of companies based in London
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Hackney Category:High fashion brands Category:Clothing brands of the United Kingdom Category:Clothing companies established in 1990 Category:British companies established in 1990 Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019