Jane Shepherdson

Jane Shepherdson (born Bristol in 1963) is the chief executive of UK clothing brand, Whistles and was previously the brand director for high-street women's wear store TopShop.

She was born in Bristol was educated at Clifton High School, where she began customising her clothes. She studied Business Studies at the University of North London, joining the Burton Group (now the Arcadia Group), after being inspired by her mother's story of a fashion buyer friend. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16261614&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=shy-genius-who-turned-flopshop-into-the-high-st-darling-topshop---name_page.html Shy Genius Who Turned Flopshop Into The High St Darling Topshop - Mirror.Co.Uk ] ]

Shepherdson started as a warehouse picker sending stock to stores, and was then promoted to become a buyer in the jersey department. She ordered a shipment of tank tops, of which 500,000 were sold in a week. Her initiatives at TopShop have included:

*TopShop Freshers' Week party - with annual discount evenings and free alcohol to tempt teenagers to spend their student loans
*TopShop To Go - 100 select items are delivered by Mercedes to home
*TopShop Express - a fleet of Vespas deliver up to five items within three hours of the online order

She is credited with being the leading British proponent of "fast fashion" in the mid noughties, a trend demonstrated by TopShop's reaction to demand for "boho chic" in 2004-5. ["Sunday Times Style", 17 September 2006 ] [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2104-2349051,00.html The way we dress now - Sunday Times - Times Online ] ]

A week after TopShop owner Philip Green announced that supermodel Kate Moss had signed a deal to design clothes to be launched in 2007, Shepherdson resigned from Topshop. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5412848.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Topshop ructions as fashion boss quits ] ] Since resigning from the brand, she is now producing a fashion chain for Oxfam, aimed at "ethically conscious shoppers". She is receiving no pay for this work and has hit out at "cheap, cheap" clothes (possibly referring to Kate Moss's range) that exploit workers in developing countries. [ [http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article1977663.ece Oxfam stores get touch of Topshop - Times Online ] ]

As of January 2008, Shepherdson bought a 20 per cent share in Whistles and was appointed chief executive.cite web |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article3294036.ece|title=Return of fashion queen Jane Shepherdson|accessdate=2008-06-13 |author=Davey, Jenny |date=2008-02-03 |work=Times Online]

Shepherdson is married to a criminal defence lawyer, and cycles from their flat in South London to work. She lists her hobbies as running, horse riding, skiing and shopping. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5412848.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Topshop ructions as fashion boss quits ] ]

References

External links

* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1587859,00.html Interview with The Observer]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/retail/story/0,,1883833,00.html Interview with The Guardian]