High and Mighty

High and Mighty was a British specialist clothing retailer serving men whose body proportions were not well accommodated by mainstream menswear. Its assortment focused on clothing for tall and/or broad customers, giving the chain a clearly defined fit-based proposition rather than competing primarily as a general fashion retailer. The business began in Hull in 1956, when tailor Bernard Levy established it as a mail-order operation. This origin was important to the brand’s model: specialist sizing could be offered to customers across a wider area than a single conventional shop, while the company could develop expertise in garments and measurements that were difficult to find elsewhere. The retailer opened its first physical store on London’s Edgware Road in 1959 under the name Northern Outsize Menswear. Additional stores followed, and the business adopted the High and Mighty name during the 1970s. The new identity expressed the company’s focus on unusually tall or large male customers while supporting a more recognizable retail brand. In 1979, High and Mighty expanded outside the United Kingdom by opening stores in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, under the trading name London Majesty. The American operation did not prove permanent; both United States stores were closed in 1991. Leadership remained within the Levy family for much of the company’s independent existence. Bernard Levy’s daughter Judith became chairman and managing director in 1990, and her sister Ruth Levy-So joined the business as business development director in 1996. By 2000, the company had 23 UK stores and a further 10 locations in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. It also broadened its offer with Kayak, an urban streetwear label created for its customer base. This move indicated an effort to combine specialist sizing with contemporary fashion categories instead of positioning the retailer only around formal or functional outsize clothing. The company encountered financial pressure by 2008. The reference history associates these difficulties partly with growing competition from e-commerce retailers, which challenged the economics of a conventional store network and changed how specialist customers could shop. In September 2009, High and Mighty entered pre-pack administration and was acquired by JD Williams, the principal mail-order subsidiary of N Brown Group, for £1.6 million. Fourteen of the chain’s 21 stores were included in the transaction. N Brown described the acquisition as an opportunity to reinvigorate and expand the brand and as its first branded high-street initiative. Following the acquisition, High and Mighty’s online operation was expanded quickly. By September 2010, the number of existing or planned stores had increased from 14 to 17, and the Edgware Road flagship had been refurbished and relaunched with a revised store presentation. The strategy combined specialist high-street retail with the mail-order and digital capabilities associated with N Brown and JD Williams. The retail estate ultimately did not remain part of N Brown’s long-term strategy. In June 2018, N Brown announced plans to close all 20 of its UK high-street stores operating under the High & Mighty, Jacamo and Simply Be names. The closures resulted in the loss of 270 jobs. High and Mighty therefore ceased to operate as a UK high-street chain. The available reference material does not establish whether any separate online business, trademark activity or successor operation continued after the store closures, so its post-2018 brand status beyond the retail estate remains uncertain.

High and Mighty originated in Hull in 1956 as a mail-order company founded by tailor Bernard Levy. Its initial business model addressed a specialized problem: tall and broad men often had difficulty finding well-fitting garments through ordinary menswear retailers. The company’s mail-order roots allowed it to serve customers beyond a single local market and helped establish specialist sizing as the basis of the brand. The first store opened on Edgware Road in London in 1959 under the name Northern Outsize Menswear. The company subsequently developed a store network and changed its name to High and Mighty in the 1970s. In 1979 it attempted an international expansion, opening stores in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, under the name London Majesty. Both US stores were eventually closed in 1991. Family involvement continued throughout the independent period. Judith Levy, Bernard Levy’s daughter, became chairman and managing director in 1990. Her sister Ruth Levy-So joined as business development director in 1996. By 2000, High and Mighty operated 23 stores in the United Kingdom and 10 more across Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The company also introduced Kayak, an urban streetwear brand intended to give its specialist-size customer base a more contemporary fashion option. Financial problems emerged by 2008, with increased competition from online retailers identified as one contributing factor. In September 2009, High and Mighty entered pre-pack administration and was acquired for £1.6 million by JD Williams, the principal mail-order subsidiary of N Brown Group. The transaction included 14 of the chain’s 21 stores. N Brown sought to revive the chain and use it as a branded high-street platform alongside its established direct-to-consumer capabilities. The post-acquisition plan placed greater emphasis on digital commerce and store renewal. High and Mighty’s e-commerce operation was expanded, the company planned additional shops and the Edgware Road flagship was refurbished and relaunched in 2010. By September of that year, the number of existing or soon-to-open stores had risen from 14 to 17. The high-street strategy was later reversed. In June 2018, N Brown announced that all 20 of its UK high-street stores trading under the High & Mighty, Jacamo and Simply Be names would close. The closures affected 270 jobs. This ended High and Mighty’s identifiable UK store-chain operation. The available sources do not confirm whether the name continued as a standalone online brand or trademark after the closures.

• 2018

  UK high-street stores close

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  N Brown announced the closure of all 20 UK stores trading under High & Mighty, Jacamo and Simply Be.

• 2010

  Store and e-commerce renewal

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The online business was expanded, new stores were planned and the Edgware Road flagship was relaunched after refurbishment.

• 2009

  Acquisition by JD Williams

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  High and Mighty entered pre-pack administration and was acquired by JD Williams, a subsidiary of N Brown Group.

• 2000

  International store network reaches reported peak

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The company had 23 UK stores and 10 stores in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, and had launched Kayak urban streetwear.

• 1990

  Judith Levy takes leadership

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Judith Levy became chairman and managing director.

• 1979

  United States expansion

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Stores opened in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, trading as London Majesty.

• 1970

  Brand adopts the High and Mighty name

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its trading name to High and Mighty during the 1970s.

• 1959

  First store opens in London

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The first physical shop opened on Edgware Road under the name Northern Outsize Menswear.

• 1956

  Company founded in Hull

  [1]High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Tailor Bernard Levy founded the business as a mail-order company serving tall and broad men.

Specialist, fit-led menswear for tall and broad men, combining dedicated sizing expertise with mail-order, e-commerce and high-street retail.

• Tall and broad-fit menswear · 1956

  High and Mighty specialist menswear

  The core assortment consisted of clothing designed for tall and/or broad men. The brand’s differentiation was primarily based on specialist proportions and size availability rather than a single garment category. Its retail and mail-order formats enabled customers seeking non-standard fits to shop through a dedicated specialist business.

• Urban streetwear · 2000

  Kayak

  Kayak was an urban streetwear label launched by High and Mighty by 2000. It represented an effort to extend the company’s specialist-size proposition into a more contemporary casual and streetwear direction.

• 2018

  Closure of the UK high-street estateStrategy

  Background

  N Brown reviewed its high-street operations across the High & Mighty, Jacamo and Simply Be brands.

  Action taken

  The company announced that all 20 UK high-street stores operating under those names would close.

  Aftermath

  The closures resulted in 270 job losses and ended High and Mighty’s high-street chain presence.

  Source

• 2010

  Post-acquisition retail and digital expansionStrategy

  Background

  N Brown intended to make High and Mighty a stronger branded presence on the high street while using its mail-order and e-commerce capabilities.

  Action taken

  The online operation was expanded, additional stores were planned and the Edgware Road flagship was refurbished and relaunched.

  Aftermath

  By September 2010, the number of existing or soon-to-open stores had reached 17.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale to JD WilliamsM&A

  Background

  Financial difficulties, partly associated with increased competition from e-commerce retailers, led to a pre-pack administration.

  Action taken

  JD Williams acquired High and Mighty and 14 of its 21 stores for £1.6 million.

  Aftermath

  N Brown Group planned to reinvigorate the chain, expand its online presence and develop it as a high-street brand.

  Acquisition price. £1.6 million (September 2009)

  Source

• 2000

  Launch of Kayak urban streetwearProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to broaden its specialist offering beyond conventional outsize menswear.

  Action taken

  High and Mighty introduced Kayak, an urban streetwear brand.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not report separate sales or long-term performance for Kayak.

  Source

• 1979

  International store expansion under London MajestyStrategy

  Background

  High and Mighty sought to extend its specialist menswear model beyond the United Kingdom.

  Action taken

  It opened stores in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, using the London Majesty trading name.

  Aftermath

  Both US stores were closed in 1991.

  Source

1. 1High and Mighty (clothing)en.wikipedia.org