Editors' top reads: news from Matches, John Lewis, TONIC and more... Here are some of this week's news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.fashion team. Matches is back, ushering in the 'future of luxury' On Wednesday morning, I walked into a meeting - and the first topic of conversation? Matches is back. The news had already spread like wildfire, and suddenly everyone in the room was talking about what this revival could mean for the luxury landscape. Almost two years after collapsing into administration, the storied British retailer, along with its in-house label Raey, has been acquired by Joe Wilkinson and Mario Maher, the founders of the members-only shopping app Mile. Under their newly formed luxury group, Hulcan, the duo revealed plans to relaunch both brands in 2026, promising a modern, highly curated approach that combines commerce, culture, media, and fashion - a clear signal that Matches is not just returning, but aiming to redefine what multi-brand luxury retail can be. Hulcan has secured $150 million (£112 million) in strategic capital from a network of high-profile fashion and retail backers, including Frasers Group and Palm Angels founder Francesco Ragazzi. But the road ahead is far from straightforward. Frasers Group bought Matches for £52 million in late 2023 before placing it into administration just three months later, leaving the brand with significant debts and over 270 staff made redundant. Now, with the assets and intellectual property in hand, Hulcan has a unique opportunity to rebuild without legacy constraints - but execution will be key. This is especially poignant when considering the brands left £50 million to brand partners... The news was met with cautious optimism across the industry, alongside a growing list of unanswered questions. Read how the industry reacted to the news here. Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer. Festive footfall begins to build with 'all eyes now on Super Saturday' Apparently, tomorrow, 20 December, is deemed 'Super Saturday' (SS) due to the mass flux of people descending on their local high streets to spend their dosh (if they're paid yet) on last-minute Christmas gifts. Seriously? I'd prefer to call it 'Avoid Like the Plague Saturday', or maybe 'Slip in Late Doors on Sunday' if needed. What is the attraction? The sales are all already on, I hear you say, but haven't they been since at least two weeks prior to 'Black Friday'? The Industry haven't even really had any proper winter weather yet - I'm still barely putting my heating on - so suffering shops must be stacked with cut-price outerwear and knitwear. Actually, maybe that's a reason to bend the credit card! Any road up, according to the latest 'data' from ShopperTrak Analytics from Sensormatic Solutions (do they actually visit high streets, I wonder), last weekend saw UK footfall rise 4.4% week-on-week as The Industry count down to tomorrow's SS. Not only that, UK shoppers were expected to have made 20.6 million transactions over Friday and Saturday last week (12 and 13 December), according to separate figures from Nationwide, which was 6.39% higher than 2024. I admire those people who shopped so ferociously in the wake of Rachel Reeves' Budget, but I definitely wouldn't want to be a shopkeeper in January 2026 when everyone is skint. According to the 'data', last year on Super Saturday, footfall jumped 4.1% week-on-week - an improvement of 0.8% year-on-year (wow, I hear you say) - as shoppers scrambled to pick up last-minute gifts, "spurred on by some retailers bringing forward Boxing Day discounts to drive up pre-Christmas demand." That could be edited very differently: 'spurred by some retailers bringing forward Boxing Day discounts to make sure there's less unsold stock - and a few extra quid in the till - come rent and business rates pay day in the New Year.' Happy Christmas, folks! Tom Bottomley, Contributing Editor. Retro, relaxed and responsible: John Lewis reveals top fashion trends of 2025 After years of pared-back minimalism, the nation embraced expressive colour, comfort, and a strong sense of 'Nowstalgia' in 2025, according to John Lewis's twelfth annual How The Industry Shop, Live and Look report. Even amid economic uncertainty, fashion became a source of optimism, pleasure, and personality, the retailer said. A revival of 90s music, fashion, and culture defined the year. Meanwhile, an extended warm season continued to influence fashion, pushing swimwear beyond its traditional selling period. Sustainability and longevity gained renewed importance, driving a revival in repair culture and pre-loved fashion, as well as modern heritage - featuring Scottish tweeds, oversized knitwear, long pleated skirts, and waxed jackets - of course, amplified by The Celebrity Traitors. Formal shoes are also becoming increasingly rare in Britain's offices, as commuters prioritise comfort and style over tradition. Read the full trend summary here. Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer. The Interview: TONIC founder Sophie Kinross on why she created a new fashion category - patientwear Sometimes I'm stopped in my tracks by entrepreneurs in its sector. The courage, the innovation, the creativity, the tenacity, the vision... Sophie Kinross has all of those and, given her personal experience with injury and illness, is also driven by a determination to deliver dignity to The Industry, when The Industry need it most. She deserves every success. I'll let you read about the circumstances that led her to set up TONIC in this interview - be prepared to be moved. Any of you who have spent time in hospital for yourself, or while visiting others, will know that often it is the simple things that bring comfort. Even when you are in the hands of experts and the kindest of healthcare workers, hospitalisation can be a dehumanising process. If being ill or injured isn't bad enough, dealing with gowns that do little to protect your modesty and scratchy slings or visible drain bags, is something The Industry could all do without. Kinross has developed a new category of fashion, patientwear. And it is genius. There are lounge suits, robes and cashmere shawls, but also hospital grade gowns, pyjamas, grip socks, drain bag pouches and stylish slings that all make the wearer look and feel that little bit better. And looking and feeling a little bit better is no small thing when you are at your most vulnerable. This is officially my favourite brand launch of recent years. Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.

Hulcan, a newly founded luxury group, has acquired retailer Matches and its in-house brand Raey, with plans to relaunch operations in 2026. The company was founded by Joe Wilkinson and Mario Maher, who also created members-only shopping app Mile. Hulcan is combining Mile with Matches to form a new entity focused on redefining luxury retail through innovation, community and profitability. The acquisition rescues Matches, which had been largely shuttered after its purchase by Frasers Group. Frasers Group CEO Michael Murray said the company remains committed to investing in the future of luxury as part of its Elevation Strategy. The new business model aims to revitalise the struggling luxury retailer through a fresh approach.