{{short description|Chain of designer stores}} {{Infobox company | name = Tessuti | logo = Tessuti logo.svg | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | foundation = 1985 | founder = David Light | location = [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]], United Kingdom | area_served = [[United Kingdom]] | key_people = | industry = Retail | products = Clothing | services = | revenue = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]101.1 million <small>(2021)</small><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=https://uk.globaldatabase.com/company/tessuti-ltd|title=Financial statements of TESSUTI LTD|work=GlobalDataBase|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> | operating_income = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]45 million <small>(2021)</small><ref name=autogenerated2/> | num_employees = | parent = [[JD Sports Fashion plc|JD Sports]] (2016-2022)<br>[[Frasers Group]] (2022-) | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|www.tessuti.co.uk }} (Redirects to Flannels) | caption = }}
'''Tessuti''' was a chain of designer stores in the United Kingdom, retailing men’s and women’s designer collections, including clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. Tessuti was founded in 1985 by David Light. In December 2022, [[Frasers Group]] acquired Tessuti from [[JD Sports Fashion plc|JD Sports]] who had previously owned the company in full since 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=JD Sports agrees £47.5m sale of 15 brands to Frasers Group {{!}} Business {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/16/jd-sports-agrees-475m-sale-of-15-brands-to-frasers-group |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref>
As of 2019, Tessuti has thirty-eight stores, including doors in Liverpool,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.liverpool-one.com/shops/tessuti/|title=Tessuti - Liverpool ONE|work=Liverpool ONE|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/coats-worth-6000-stolen-speke-10639747|title=Coats worth £6,000 stolen from Speke shop|last=Lally|first=Kate|date=2015-12-22|work=liverpoolecho|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> Chester, Leeds,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/tessuti-to-open-at-white-rose-in-leeds/5080250.article|title=Tessuti to open at White Rose in Leeds|work=Drapers|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}</ref> Merryhill,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2017/09/17/sketchers-tessuti-and-cath-kidson-to-open-at-merry-hill/|title=Skechers, Tessuti and Cath Kidston to open at Merry Hill|last=Butler|first=Clare|website=www.expressandstar.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/new-fashion-shoe-stores-coming-13591148|title=These new fashion and shoe stores are coming to Merry Hill|last=Chamberlain|first=Zoe|date=2017-09-18|work=birminghammail|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> Meadowhall Sheffield<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/73957-|title=Tessuti opens in Meadowhall|work=Insider Media Ltd|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> and Ipswich.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/boost-for-ipswich-town-centre-as-tessuti-brings-its-fashions-to-the-south-1-5212657|title=Boost for Ipswich town centre as Tessuti brings its fashions to the south|last=Geater|first=Paul|work=Ipswich Star|access-date=2018-05-17|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/word-on-the-street-what-did-ipswich-make-of-black-friday-deals-1-5294839|title=Word on the Street: What did Ipswich make of Black Friday deals?|last=Aldous|first=Megan|work=Ipswich Star|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}</ref> The retailer also has two stores within Manchester's<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/manchester-shopping-sales-offers-discounts-11677553|title=Manchester shopping sales cut up to 80% off the price of clothes|last=Hurrell|first=Stephen|date=2016-07-29|work=men|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> [[Trafford Centre]] and a Lowry Outlet store<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/tessuti-opens-in-lowry-outlet-mall/|title=Place North West {{!}} Tessuti opens in Lowry Outlet Mall|date=2011-04-12|work=Place North West|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> in Salford Quays. The multi-channel retailer also has stores inside [[Bluewater Shopping Centre]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/shopping/bluewater-black-friday-deals-offers-758473|title=Bluewater opening times, discounts and deals for Black Friday 2017|last=Madge|first=Sophie|date=2017-11-24|work=kentlive|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> Metro Centre in Gateshead and [http://www.broadwaybradford.com/retailers/tessuti/ Bradford Broadway]. JD Sports PLC bought out menswear brand Cecil Gee<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/retail/multiples/jds-tessuti-deal-spells-the-end-for-cecil-gee/5037610.article|title=JD's Tessuti deal spells the end for Cecil Gee|work=Drapers|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}</ref> in 2012, turning all five branches into Tessuti stores. Tessuti’s portfolio has also includes the Aspecto<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2016/08/aspectos-future-in-the-balance-with-impending-closure-of-hq/|title=Aspecto's future in the balance with impending closure of HQ - Retail Gazette|last=Jahshan|first=Elias|date=2016-08-24|work=Retail Gazette|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> and Infinities retail businesses, bought by JD Sports PLC<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/aspecto-bought-by-tessuti-partners/5077811.article|title=Aspecto bought by Tessuti partners|work=Drapers|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}</ref> in 2015 and that form part of an ongoing re-brand underneath the Tessuti umbrella. New store openings in 2018 included a new store at [[Manchester Arndale]] and Glasgow Fort.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-fort-welcome-six-new-12963014|title=Glasgow Fort to welcome six new businesses in the 'coming months'|last=Glen|first=Fraser|date=2017-04-29|work=glasgowlive|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref>
== History ==
David Light and his brother-in-law Michael Ashcroft, opened their first shop at 53 Watergate Row, Chester in April 1985. The first store to offer a number of international brands to Chester, Tessuti’s original store introduced new labels such as [[Stone Island]], [[C.P. Company|CP Company]] and [[Giorgio Armani]] to the city.
In May 2012, [[JD Sports Fashion plc]] acquired 40% of the business and then later in 2016 took control of Tessuti in full.
In late 2017, the brand suffered from undesirable publicity due to animal rights campaigners drawing attention to the fact that stores sell products using real animal fur and goose down.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/campaigners-stage-real-fur-protest-outside-tessuti-in-ipswich-1-5332406|title=Animal rights campaigners stage protest against real fur outside Tessuti store in Ipswich|last=Mercer|first=Katie|work=Ipswich Star|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en}}</ref>
In April 2018, Tessuti launched a flagship store in Chester at [[30 Bridge Street, Chester|30 Bridge Street]], a grade II [[listed building]] and former Liberty store.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wearechester.co.uk/2018/04/27/fashionista-alert-new-tessuti-store-launches-in-chester/|title=New Tessuti Store Launches in Chester|last=Ferguson|first=Angela|work=We Are Chester|access-date=2018-04-27|language=en}}</ref>
Tessuti was the principal sponsor of the Sports & Leisurewear Award at [http://www.graduatefashionweek.com Graduate Fashion Week]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/GFW-signs-Tessuti-to-sponsor-new-sports-leisure-award,976352.html#.WvQ8lC7wbIU|title=GFW signs Tessuti to sponsor new sports/leisure award|last=Halliday|first=FashionNetwork.com,Sandra|work=FashionNetwork.com|access-date=2018-05-10|language=en-UK}}</ref> in 2018 and 2019. The [https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/17701496.essex-coast-is-inspiration-for-students-sustainable-fashion-designs/ 2019 winner of the Tessuti Sports & Leisurewear award] was Katherine Jayne-Watts for her sustainable sportswear collection.
In December 2022 a £47.5m deal from [[Mike Ashley (businessman)|Mike Ashley’s]], [[Frasers Group]] saw Tessuti and 14 other brands be sold from previous owner [[JD Sports Fashion plc|JD Sports Fashion plc.]]<ref name=":0" /> As a result of the takeover, the Tessuti website was closed in May 2023 with visitors redirected to [[Flannels (retail)|Flannels]] and all Tessuti stores gradually closed with Flannels stores opening in many towns which had a Tessuti store such as Blackburn. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Flannels to open on spot vacated by Tessuti in town centre |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23715450.flannels-open-old-tessuti-store-mall-blackburn/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524215645/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23715450.flannels-open-old-tessuti-store-mall-blackburn/ |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Major Retailer Closing Its Store In A Major UK Shopping Destination: Here's Why |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/major-retailer-closing-its-store-uk-shopping-centre-more-people-shop-online-other-branches-also-1732678 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=International Business Times UK |language=en}}</ref>
The Tessuti website was launched in 2006 as an extension of the business offering the same brands available across the Tessuti stores.
== Etymology == The Tessuti name comes from the masculine plural of [[:it:Tessuto|Tessuto]], the Italian word for fabric.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.tessuti.co.uk Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tessuti}} [[Category:British companies established in 1985]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1985]] [[Category:Clothing retailers of England]] [[Category:1985 establishments in England]]