Drapers Fashion retail industry news, trends and analysis
Harrods
Luxury department store Harrods – an iconic London landmark in Knightsbridge – was opened by Charles Henry Harrod in 1849. In 2010 it was revealed that Qatar Holding acquired Harrods from Egyptian-born businessman Mohamed al-Fayed in a deal reported to be worth around £1.5bn. Harrods stocks over 700 luxury fashion labels, including its “super brands” Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton. The department store continues to innovate, and in July it announced the opening of an exclusive private members’ club, The Residence, at Cha House in Shanghai. This follows the Harrods Residence Suite at The Opposite House hotel in Beijing, which first opened in 2021 and relaunched in March. The Knightsbridge behemoth houses 23 restaurants, cafes and bars, while Harrods also has stores at London Gatwick Airport’s North and South Terminals, and Heathrow Terminal 3, and has five standalone H Beauty stores in Lakeside in Essex, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Bristol and Gateshead.
