Amanda Wakeley secures new investment

British designer Amanda Wakeley has announced that she has secured a “significant financial investment” from specialist private equity firm AGC Equity Partners, which will help “broaden the core fashion concept into a wider, lifestyle offering”.

The new investment follows the restructuring of the business three years ago and the funds will be used to develop the label into a luxury lifestyle brand by creating new products as well as expanding the label’s retail partnerships.

Wakeley, the brand’s founder and creative director, said: “We are delighted to have completed the restructuring of the business in such a short time. This investment means that we now have the strongest operational and financial base in the company’s history.

“I have been continually pressed by our incredibly loyal customers to broaden the core fashion concept into a wider, lifestyle offering and with our new investor; I look forward to realizing this plan.”

Walid Abu-Suud, Co-CEO of AGC Equity Partners, added: “We are delighted to be investing in the company at such an exciting point in its evolving history. We are incredibly excited to be able to broaden the Amanda Wakeley Ready to Wear collection for our customers for the future, developing it into a truly luxurious lifestyle brand.”

Amanda Wakeley launched her signature label in 1990 and since then has developed an international reputation that has been helped by gaining royal recognition from the late Diana Princess of Wales and more recently from the Duchess of Cambridge. Her designs also have a Hollywood following with the likes of actresses Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones wearing her designs on the red carpet.

Image: Amanda Wakeley AW12