J.Crew to open UK e-store at end of August

The American high street giant, and favourite of Michelle Obama, has confirmed it will launch an e-commerce site at the end of the month.

BY SOPHIE WARBURTON | 02 August 2011

Darling of the American high street, J. Crew, has confirmed that its UK e-commerce site will be going live at the end of this month. The New York-based brand, which opened its first store in 1989, has in recent years been experiencing somewhat of a global expansion, and is showing at New York Fashion Week for the first time in September this year.

Are you in the J.Crew?

The label, which is nestled at the top-end of the high street (prices starting at about £25 for a T-shirt and climbing up to over £300 for an evening dress), has been a long term favourite of America's First Lady Michelle Obama and a host of well-dressed American celebrities including Rachel Bilson and Ashley Olsen. However J. Crew's appeal reaches far further than that; it is the go-to store for anything from wardrobe basics to bridal wear. It also has a successful menswear line, collections for children, aptly called Crewcuts, and an extensive range of accessories.

The company, which is headed up Jenna Lyons who has been with them for over 20 years, will fill the hole between the high-street and high-end in the UK market. Net-a-porter began stocking an edited selection of J. Crew's in May, receiving a positive reaction from UK shoppers.

A sneak peek at what to expect from J.Crew

It is possible that the launch of the e-store in the UK could lead on to bigger and better things for the label. The company, which has 251 retail stores Stateside, has just confirmed that following the success of online shopping in Canada they will be opening a 5,000 sq-foot store in Toronto later this month. Perhaps some UK based brands are going to have to budge up and make some room for the American giant on the 'Great British High Street'.