French Connection plots store openings and joins forces with Very for new season

French Connection is launching online at Very for the first time this autumn/winter across the womenswear category, according to Drapers.

Customers can expect to shop a range of the fashion retailer’s clothing, including occasionwear of “sophisticated tailoring and stand-out dresses” for the pending party season.

As the partnership progresses into next year, it is expected that Very will also stock French Connection’s range of menswear, starting in spring/summer 2025.

The deal means that Very joins French Connection’s existing stockist and concession portfolio in the UK, which currently includes Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Asos, House of Fraser, Fenwick, Elys of Wimbledon and Pearsons of Enfield.

French Connection currently has a UK store portfolio total of 19, including nine outlets, and hopes to open “four to five” further stores by the end of this year.

The new openings are expected to include a combination of full-price and outlet stores across locations including high streets and shopping centres.

Direct-to-consumer managing director Simon Donoghue said this target exceeds French Connection’s initial goal set last year to add five new stores to its bricks-and-mortar portfolio in 2024 as it has already opened stores at Guildford in Surrey, Livingston Designer Outlet near Edinburgh and in Clarks Village, Somerset, this year to date.

French Connection has also opened three new John Lewis concessions and two Brown Thomas stores in Ireland this year.

The news comes as The Very Group bolstered its board with two non-executives last week, ex-Matches boss Nick Beighton and consultant Paul O’Donnell.