Tough at the Top: How a treasured fashion brand slipped into oblivion

For many of those who worked there, Topshop was more than just a job, making the fashion retail brand’s demise last week even more painful to witness

Philip Green, chief executive of Topshop’s parent company Arcadia, with the multi-millionaire Lisa Tchenguiz. Credit: Getty

It was a virtual home from home for many teenagers, but Topshop’s reign as the queen of the high street had been in question for a long time, even before last week’s news that the online retailer Asos had acquired the brand without also purchasing its retail outlets.

For this former employee, it was a sad way to say goodbye. Topshop was the ultimate coming-of-age store, cool enough for teens but sensible enough for mums. ...