Black Friday

Footfall on Black Friday (28 November) slipped 3% year on year, but UK high streets and fashion retailers reported stronger trading over the weekend as gifting-driven customers flocked to shop and tighter discounting strategies helped lift sales.

With Black Friday in full swing, fashion retailers share how their businesses are tackling the crucial shopping period this year.

Lucy Aylen is the founder and CEO of bold and colourful womenswear brand Never Fully Dressed. She tells Drapers why the business is sitting out of Black Friday discounting.

Asos CEO José Antonio Ramos Calamonte said the online fashion retailer’s three-year turnaround is “well under way”, as full-year profitability improved and gross margin rose 370 basis points to 47.1%.

Mulberry chief executive Andrea Baldo said the luxury brand is “building good momentum” after delivering a stronger-than-expected first half in the 2025/26 financial year, with wholesale soaring 36% and group losses more than halving.

As Black Friday approaches on 28 November, Michael Thomson, founder and CEO of Drapers Award-winning lingerie brand Pour Moi, explains why the business is not taking part in the discounting event.