Tesco to move into designer fashion

Tesco is to launch an assault on the designer clothing market in an attempt to take on Marks & Spencer's Autograph collection and Debenhams' Designers at Debenhams lines. The F&F Collection, named after Tesco's existing -Florence & Fred clothing line, will be launched in September. The multi-million pound range is being positioned as "DKNY meets Hugo Boss", according to a supermarket executive. It is being master-minded by Lee Rees-Oliviere, Tesco's new head of design and a former designer at Jaeger. The shift up-market is part of Leahy's plan to double clothing sales of £800 million in the medium term.