Touker Suleyman
Touker Suleyman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Türker Süleyman August 4, 1953 Famagusta |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor, television personality |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Founder of Low Profile Group; investor on Dragons' Den |
Touker Suleyman (originally Türker Süleyman; born 4 August 1953) is a British entrepreneur of Turkish Cypriot descent, known for his work in fashion retail, investment ventures, and television. In 2001, his enterprise Low Profile Group took over the UK shirt manufacturer Hawes & Curtis, followed by the acquisition of the British fashion label Ghost in 2002. He has also backed emerging companies such as Bikesoup and Huxley & Cox. Since 2015, Suleyman has been featured as an investor on the show Dragons' Den.
In 2015, The Sunday Times placed Suleyman at number 637 on its Rich List, estimating his wealth to exceed £200 million.
Early life
Suleyman was born in Famagusta to a family of Turkish Cypriot heritage and relocated to England in 1958, settling in Bermondsey, South London. Arriving without knowledge of English, he attended Peckham Manor secondary school. At age ten, he suffered a severe hand infection that risked amputation. Early employment included assisting at his family’s restaurant located in Camberwell. Suleyman attributes much of his entrepreneurial drive to the influence of his father.
Career
Following his education, Suleyman secured a position at a chartered accountancy firm on Southampton Row, London, adhering to his father’s advice to choose a stable career path. He worked as an articled clerk earning £5.50 per week.[1]<ref> His responsibilities involved managing accounts for small clients such as dentists, doctors, and other small enterprises. Reflecting on this period, he remarked: "I realised there were three ways to make money: being a pop star, working in fashion, or investing in property."[2]
During an audit of a clothing company, Suleyman brought home some crimplene garments for his grandmother, who found there was demand among her acquaintances. He then purchased additional stock that she sold on his behalf for approximately one year—marking his initial venture into fashion.[2] He collaborated with the manufacturer based in East London before establishing Kingsland Models, which supplied retailers including C&A, Dorothy Perkins, and Top Shop.[3]
In the early 1980s, acting on advice from a stockbroker, Suleyman acquired a 29.9% shareholding in the clothing company Mellins. Encouraged by Laing & Cruickshank to invest in retailer Bamber Stores for vertical integration—"we make it and we sell it"—he commissioned an accounting review by Coopers & Lybrand, which uncovered falsified accounts and deficits ranging from £20 million to £26 million.[4][1] Subsequently, Suleyman resigned during a board meeting; shares were suspended and receivers from Cork Gully were appointed. The collapse compelled him to seek capital to rescue Mellins but he was unsuccessful in securing investors.[1] Facing significant debt, he sold his home to repay bank loans.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In November 2024, Suleyman was honoured with the Drapers lifetime achievement award in recognition of his five decades in the fashion industry.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Low Profile Group
In 1984, Suleyman purchased a modest cash-and-carry business which developed into Low Profile Group—a clothing manufacturing company supplying major retailers such as Marks & Spencer. The group operates factories situated in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Georgia.
Hawes & Curtis
In 2001, Low Profile Group took ownership of Hawes & Curtis for a nominal £1, at a time when the company was burdened with £500,000 in debt and facing imminent administration. Under Suleyman's continued leadership as Chairman, the business expanded significantly, with revenue increasing from £600,000 in 2001 to £30 million by 2014. By that year, Hawes & Curtis operated 30 outlets across the UK and maintained a single branch in Cologne, Germany. Additionally, in 2013, Korath Holding, an investment group based in the UAE, committed $5 million to establish 26 stores throughout the Gulf region over a five-year period.
Ghost
Suleyman acquired the fashion brand Ghost in 2008 after its Icelandic proprietors scaled back funding following the banking crisis. This purchase safeguarded 142 positions and brought stability to the label.
Other investments
Among Suleyman's diverse holdings are Docks Rio (specializing in casual boat shoes), Intelligent Futures (focused on online advertising), Personify XP (providing AI-driven personalisation), Huxley & Cox (luxury handbag brand), and Bikesoup, an internet marketplace for bicycles, where he invested £100,000 securing a 46% ownership share.
Dragons' Den
In 2015, Suleyman became part of the investor panel on the BBC's Dragons' Den during its thirteenth season, joining fellow investors Nick Jenkins and Sarah Willingham.
Personal life
Previously married to a Danish woman, Suleyman has two daughters. He currently lives in London and identifies as a non-practicing Muslim.
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