Touker Suleyman
Touker Suleyman (Template:Lang-tr; born 4 August 1953) is a British-Turkish Cypriot fashion retail entrepreneur, investor, and reality television personality who has built a multimillion-pound business empire in the fashion and retail sectors. Since 2015, he has appeared as one of the "dragons" on the BBC Two investment programme Dragons' Den, bringing his five decades of fashion industry experience to evaluate pitches from aspiring entrepreneurs.
Suleyman is the chairman of Low Profile Group, a clothing manufacturer he founded in 1984 that supplies retail stores including Marks & Spencer. In 2001, his company acquired the struggling British shirt maker Hawes & Curtis for just £1, and in 2008 he purchased the fashion label Ghost, saving 142 jobs when Icelandic investment funds collapsed during the financial crisis.
His business journey from arriving in England as a five-year-old unable to speak English to becoming one of Britain's most successful fashion entrepreneurs represents a remarkable immigrant success story. The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his fortune at over £200 million in 2015, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the British fashion industry.
In November 2024, Suleyman was awarded the Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 50-year career in fashion, acknowledging his contributions to British manufacturing and retail.
Early life
Birth and family background
Touker Suleyman was born as Türker Süleyman on 4 August 1953 in Famagusta, Cyprus, into a Turkish Cypriot family. Famagusta was then part of the British colony of Cyprus, which would not gain independence until 1960.
His early childhood was spent in Cyprus during a period of growing intercommunal tensions between the island's Greek and Turkish populations. These tensions would eventually lead to the division of Cyprus, though by then Suleyman had long since relocated to England.
Immigration to England
In 1958, when Suleyman was just five years old, his family moved to England and settled in Bermondsey, South London. The move represented a significant upheaval for the young child, who arrived in Britain unable to speak English.
The immigrant experience shaped Suleyman's character and work ethic. Learning English as a second language while adapting to British culture required resilience and determination - qualities that would later serve him well in business. The experience also gave him empathy for other immigrants and outsiders trying to make their way in British society.
Bermondsey, in South London, was a working-class area with its own challenges, but it provided the Suleyman family with opportunities not available in Cyprus. The area's proximity to London's commercial centers meant that pathways to business success were accessible to those willing to work hard.
Education
Suleyman attended Peckham Manor Secondary School in South London, where he received his formal education. His schooling was interrupted at age 10 when he suffered a serious hand infection that resulted in missing a year of school and left him at risk of amputation of his left hand. The medical crisis was eventually resolved, but the year away from formal education was significant.
Despite these challenges, Suleyman completed his secondary education and entered the workforce. His father ran a restaurant in Camberwell, and young Touker helped out with the family business, gaining early exposure to the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
Early influences
Suleyman has credited his father as his primary inspiration to start his own business. Watching his father run the family restaurant taught him about customer service, financial management, and the daily discipline required to operate a successful business.
The restaurant experience also exposed him to the immigrant business community in South London, where Turkish Cypriots, Greeks, Italians, and other immigrant groups had established small businesses. This entrepreneurial ecosystem demonstrated that success was possible for those willing to work hard, regardless of their origins.
Early career
Chartered accountancy
After leaving school, Suleyman heeded his father's wishes that he enter a secure profession by joining a chartered accountancy firm in Southampton Row, London. He worked as an articled clerk earning just £5.50 per week - a modest sum even by the standards of the era.
The accountancy work was educational but, as Suleyman has acknowledged, "quite boring." However, it provided valuable insights into how businesses operated financially. He audited accounts for small clients including dentists, doctors, and small businesses, gaining an understanding of different business models and their financial characteristics.
During this period, Suleyman identified three paths to significant wealth: becoming a pop star, entering the fashion business, or investing in property. With limited musical talent, he focused his ambitions on the latter two options.
Entry into fashion
Suleyman's entry into the fashion business came through an unexpected opportunity. While doing an audit for a clothing company, he took home some crimplene garments for his grandmother. She later told him that her friends wanted the same items. Sensing an opportunity, Suleyman purchased more garments, which his grandmother sold on his behalf for approximately a year.
This informal operation gave Suleyman his first taste of the fashion trade and confirmed his instinct that the industry offered significant opportunities. He describes this period as his introduction to the fashion business.
Partnership and manufacturing
Building on his grandmother's sales success, Suleyman entered into a partnership with the manufacturer whose goods she had been selling. The partnership operated from a factory in East London, giving Suleyman hands-on experience in clothing manufacturing.
From this base, Suleyman went on to form Kingsland Models, a clothing company that supplied major retailers including C&A, Dorothy Perkins, and Top Shop. The success of Kingsland Models established Suleyman as a credible figure in the British fashion industry and provided the foundation for his subsequent ventures.
Mellins and Bamber Stores crisis
Investment in Mellins
In the early 1980s, acting on advice from a stockbroker, Suleyman took a 29.9% stake in clothing business Mellins. The investment represented a significant commitment of his capital and marked his transition from clothing manufacturer to investor in retail businesses.
The Bamber Stores disaster
Suleyman was subsequently persuaded by investment bank Laing & Cruickshank that Mellins should buy a stake in retailer Bamber Stores, with the logic that "collaboration" could be achieved by combining manufacturing and retail - "we make it and we sell it."
When Suleyman asked accountants Coopers & Lybrand to review Bamber Stores, they discovered that the business had falsified its records and was £20-26 million in deficit. The revelation was devastating. A board meeting was held the following Monday where Suleyman resigned, the company's shares were suspended, and receivers Cork Gully were called in.
The collapse of Bamber Stores forced Suleyman to find a way to raise money or see his investment in Mellins collapse as well. Unable to find investors willing to back him, Suleyman found himself stuck with debt. He was forced to sell his house to repay money owed to the bank.
Lessons learned
The Bamber Stores disaster was a formative experience that taught Suleyman hard lessons about due diligence, the risks of rapid expansion, and the dangers of trusting financial statements without thorough verification. The experience of losing his house and nearly being financially ruined left deep impressions that influenced his subsequent business approach.
Rather than being destroyed by the setback, Suleyman used it as motivation to rebuild. The resilience he demonstrated in recovering from this crisis would characterize his career going forward.
Low Profile Group
Founding and early development
In 1984, just a few years after the Bamber Stores disaster, Suleyman acquired a small cash-and-carry business that would subsequently become Low Profile Group. The name reflected his desire to maintain a modest profile after his public embarrassment with Mellins and Bamber Stores.
Low Profile Group developed into a successful clothing manufacturer supplying major retail stores, including Marks & Spencer - one of Britain's most demanding retailers in terms of quality standards. Building a relationship with M&S represented a significant achievement and validated Suleyman's return to the fashion industry.
International manufacturing
Low Profile Group's manufacturing operations are based in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Georgia, taking advantage of lower labor costs while maintaining quality standards acceptable to British retailers. This international manufacturing model allows the company to compete effectively on price while delivering products that meet the expectations of premium retailers.
The Turkish operations reflect Suleyman's cultural connections and his understanding of manufacturing capabilities in that region. His Turkish Cypriot heritage gives him advantages in navigating business relationships in Turkey that might be more challenging for British competitors without those cultural connections.
Hawes & Curtis
Acquisition for £1
In 2001, Low Profile Group acquired Hawes & Curtis, the historic British shirt maker, for just £1. The company was £500,000 in debt and on the verge of administration, making it essentially worthless to its creditors who were more interested in recovering something from a sale than watching the business fail completely.
Hawes & Curtis had a distinguished heritage as a maker of high-quality shirts, but had fallen on hard times through mismanagement and changing market conditions. Suleyman saw an opportunity to revive a respected British brand while acquiring valuable intellectual property and customer relationships at minimal cost.
Turnaround and growth
Under Suleyman's ownership and chairmanship, Hawes & Curtis underwent a remarkable transformation. Turnover rose from £600,000 in 2001 to £30 million by 2014 - a fifty-fold increase that demonstrated the power of combining a quality brand with competent management and adequate capitalization.
The turnaround involved modernizing the brand while respecting its heritage, expanding the product range, and professionalizing operations. Suleyman's manufacturing expertise allowed him to source products efficiently while maintaining the quality standards that Hawes & Curtis customers expected.
Retail expansion
As of 2014, Hawes & Curtis operates from approximately 30 branches in the UK and one in Cologne, Germany. The store network provides direct access to customers while building brand awareness that supports online sales.
In 2013, UAE investment group Korath Holding signed a $5 million deal to open 26 Hawes & Curtis stores across the Gulf region over five years. The international expansion demonstrated the brand's potential beyond its UK home market and Suleyman's ambitions for global growth.
Ghost
Acquisition during financial crisis
In 2008, Suleyman purchased fashion label Ghost after its owner, KCAJ, an Icelandic investment fund, cut investment following the collapse of the Icelandic banking market during the global financial crisis.
The acquisition saved 142 jobs across the company - a significant consideration for Suleyman, who was motivated not just by business opportunity but by the desire to preserve employment and British fashion manufacturing capability. The timing, during the depths of the financial crisis, required confidence that others lacked.
Ghost had established itself as a distinctive brand in the fashion market, known for its romantic, feminine aesthetic and quality fabrics. Under Icelandic ownership, the brand had lost direction, but its fundamental appeal to customers remained intact.
Strategic fit
The Ghost acquisition complemented Suleyman's existing businesses by adding a women's fashion brand to his portfolio alongside the male-focused Hawes & Curtis. The combination allowed for potential benefits in areas such as marketing, retail operations, and corporate functions.
Other investments
Dragons' Den investments
Since joining Dragons' Den in 2015, Suleyman has invested in numerous businesses that appeared on the show. His investments reflect his expertise in fashion and retail while occasionally extending into adjacent areas.
Other business interests
Beyond his Dragons' Den activity, Suleyman has invested in various businesses including:
- Docks Rio: A casual boat shoe brand
- Intelligent Futures: An online advertising startup
- Personify XP: An AI personalization startup
- Huxley & Cox: A manufacturer of luxury handbags
- Bikesoup: An online marketplace for bicycles, in which Suleyman invested £100,000 for an undisclosed stake. His current stake in the business is 46%
These investments demonstrate Suleyman's willingness to look beyond his fashion expertise while maintaining a focus on consumer-facing businesses where his experience adds value.
Dragons' Den
Joining the show
In 2015, Suleyman joined the investors' panel on the thirteenth series of BBC Two's Dragons' Den, alongside Nick Jenkins and Sarah Willingham. His appointment brought decades of fashion industry experience to a panel that often evaluates consumer product and retail pitches.
Suleyman replaced dragons who had departed the show, bringing fresh perspective and investment capital. His background in manufacturing and brand turnarounds made him particularly valuable when evaluating businesses with operational or brand challenges.
Investment approach
On the show, Suleyman typically focuses on businesses where he can add value beyond capital - whether through his retail relationships, manufacturing expertise, or experience turning around struggling brands. His questions to entrepreneurs often probe operational details and demonstrate his hands-on understanding of retail economics.
His style in the Den is generally supportive when he sees genuine potential, though he can be direct in explaining why he's declining to invest. His accent and delivery have made him a distinctive presence on the show, and his business insights have earned respect from viewers and fellow dragons alike.
Lifetime achievement
In November 2024, Suleyman was awarded the Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award for his 50-year career in fashion. The award, from the trade publication that covers the British fashion retail industry, recognized his contributions to British manufacturing, brand building, and job creation over five decades.
The award ceremony acknowledged Suleyman's journey from immigrant child to fashion industry leader, his rescue of heritage brands like Hawes & Curtis and Ghost, and his role in bringing entrepreneurship to television audiences through Dragons' Den.
Personal life
Marriage and family
Suleyman was formerly married to an (unnamed) Danish woman, and the couple had two daughters together. The marriage ended in divorce, and Suleyman has maintained privacy around his personal relationships.
His daughters have benefited from his business success while developing their own lives and careers. Suleyman has been protective of their privacy, keeping them out of the public eye despite his own high profile.
Religion
Suleyman is a non-practicing Muslim, maintaining his cultural heritage while not actively observing religious practices. This secular approach is common among many immigrants who maintain cultural identity without strict religious observance.
Residence
Suleyman lives in London, maintaining proximity to his business operations and the media industry that has made him a television personality. The city provides access to the fashion industry networks and retail relationships that underpin his business activities.
Business philosophy
Value investing in brands
Suleyman's business philosophy centers on identifying undervalued brands with genuine heritage and customer loyalty, then applying professional management and adequate capital to revive them. His acquisitions of Hawes & Curtis for £1 and Ghost during the financial crisis exemplify this approach.
This strategy requires patience, operational expertise, and the ability to see potential that others miss. It also requires the capital and credibility to convince suppliers, employees, and customers that a troubled brand is worth supporting through a turnaround period.
Manufacturing expertise
Unlike many fashion entrepreneurs who focus purely on design or marketing, Suleyman has deep expertise in manufacturing. His understanding of sourcing, production economics, and supply chain management allows him to compete effectively on cost while maintaining quality.
This manufacturing knowledge was developed over decades, beginning with his early partnerships and continuing through Low Profile Group's development as a supplier to major retailers.
Resilience and recovery
The Bamber Stores disaster taught Suleyman that setbacks are survivable and can provide valuable lessons. His ability to recover from losing his house and rebuild his business demonstrates resilience that has characterized his subsequent career.
This resilience is reflected in his advice to entrepreneurs on Dragons' Den, where he often emphasizes the importance of perseverance and learning from failure.
Legacy
Touker Suleyman's legacy includes several dimensions:
In fashion retail: Suleyman demonstrated that heritage British brands could be revived through competent management and adequate investment. His turnaround of Hawes & Curtis from near-bankruptcy to a £30 million turnover business provides a template for brand revival.
In immigrant entrepreneurship: Suleyman's journey from a five-year-old who couldn't speak English to a multimillionaire fashion mogul represents the potential for immigrant success in British business. His story inspires others from similar backgrounds to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.
In manufacturing: By maintaining manufacturing operations in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Georgia while supplying demanding British retailers, Suleyman has shown that quality manufacturing can be achieved outside traditional Western European centers.
In television: As a dragon on Dragons' Den, Suleyman has brought his fashion industry expertise to millions of viewers and helped popularize entrepreneurship as a career path. His distinctive presence on the show has made him recognizable beyond the fashion industry.
In job preservation: His acquisitions of struggling businesses like Hawes & Curtis and Ghost saved hundreds of jobs that would otherwise have been lost. This commitment to preserving employment alongside creating shareholder value reflects a broader conception of business responsibility.
See also
References