Rarewolf, a Scottish fashion brand co-founded by actor Barry Keoghan, is undergoing dissolution proceedings a year after its establishment. The company, incorporated in October 2023, is subject to removal from Companies House records due to inactivity and failure to file required documentation.
Barry Keoghan’s Fashion Venture Faces Dissolution – The National
Initially registered with the intention of offering luxury apparel through select retailers, the company never moved beyond its incorporation phase. Rarewolf did not develop an e-commerce platform, engage in marketing efforts, or establish a presence on social media. Additionally, no retail distribution agreements were announced, and there were no indications of product launches or brand positioning within the industry.
In early 2024, Keoghan resigned from the board of directors, marking a shift in the company’s leadership. Despite his initial involvement, there were no public statements outlining Rarewolf’s business strategy, product development, or future plans. No transactions, investor funding, or retail collaborations were reported during its brief existence.
As a result of the company’s inactivity, Companies House issued a strike-off proposal, a process that applies to businesses that fail to meet filing requirements. This is a standard procedure for companies that do not maintain legal compliance or show operational activity. Without intervention, Rarewolf is set to be formally dissolved in the coming months.
The fashion industry frequently sees brands launched by public figures, often through licensing agreements or direct-to-consumer models. Some of these brands achieve longevity through strong retail partnerships and brand identity, while others struggle to gain traction. Rarewolf did not publicly disclose its operational structure or how it intended to compete in the market before entering dissolution proceedings.
Retail distribution is a key factor in the growth of emerging fashion brands. Many new labels secure placements in department stores, multi-brand retailers, or e-commerce platforms to expand their reach. However, there were no reports of Rarewolf pursuing any retail agreements or developing a direct sales strategy.
In addition to retail distribution, digital marketing plays a crucial role in brand visibility. Social media platforms, influencer collaborations, and online campaigns have become industry standards for engaging with consumers. Unlike other brands that use these strategies to build awareness, Rarewolf did not launch digital platforms, implement marketing campaigns, or engage in press outreach initiatives.
Keoghan’s Fashion Brand Rarewolf Set for Removal from Records – Vogue
Beyond visibility, financial planning is an essential component of sustaining a fashion brand. Some companies secure external investment, while others rely on early revenue generation to maintain operations. Rarewolf did not report securing financial backing, revenue streams, or any funding initiatives before dissolution proceedings began.
The closure of a company can result from various factors, including market conditions, financial challenges, or strategic redirection. While many businesses that shut down provide statements explaining their decisions, no public remarks have been made regarding Rarewolf’s dissolution or any potential future activities.
Meanwhile, Keoghan continues his career in the entertainment industry, with recent performances in award-nominated productions. His association with Rarewolf was limited to its early stages, and no further involvement was documented after his resignation from the board.
With no indication of attempts to restore the company’s active status or transfer ownership, Rarewolf’s removal from Companies House records is expected to proceed as scheduled. Unless an appeal or intervention is made, the dissolution process will be finalized in the coming months, closing the chapter on the brand’s brief existence.
DKNY has unveiled British model Lila Moss as the new global face of the brand, starting with its SS25 campaign that’s a continuation of its New York Stories theme.
DKNY
The label this time shifts the focus from literature to cinema, “drawing inspiration from iconic movies that showcase New York City as a vibrant backdrop”.
The campaign features both the city and Moss as its main characters, “with the cinematic atmosphere allowing Lila to seamlessly embody different roles”.
Moss recently moved to NYC and the company said she “already shows the self-assurance of a local whose personal style becomes a calling card. In DKNY, she finds her own self in the city”.
Her appearance in the campaign comes at a time when her mother Kate Moss stars in the Donna Karan New York SS25 campaign – “a mother-daughter connection between these two brands that echoes DKNY’s story of origin, when Donna Karan drew inspiration from her daughter for the line’s cool, youthful attitude”.
Jeff Goldfarb, executive VP at G-III Apparel Group, said the campaign “further strengthens our commitment to expanding DKNY’s global presence”.
The images were shot by Mikael Jansson as Moss “gives off main character energy in looks that are youthful yet elevated, and feature the ‘DKNY est. 1989 collection, which revisits iconic pieces from the DKNY archive and reinterprets them in a contemporary way”.
Jacki Bouza, SVP of Global Marketing and Communications at G-III, said that the campaign “represents a pivotal moment, highlighting the brand’s unwavering commitment to creativity, authenticity, and accessibility”.
It debuts on Thursday through a diverse media mix, including social, digital, premium outdoor, select print and influencer partnerships.
As SS25 gets under way, John Lewis is upping its fashion credentials with the addition of 49 new women’s and menswear labels, including SS Daley, the award-winning brand that recently saw Harry Styles joining as an investor.
SS Daley for John Lewis
It means the department store chain will now be selling more than 350 labels alongside its own-brand fashion offer.
Selected stores and the webstore will carry over 40 women’s and men’s pieces from SS Daley, including knits and dresses with Daley’s signature design elements.
The newcomers also include Dragon Diffusion, Second Female, NN07, Norse Projects, Fast Retailing’s Theory, Summery Copenhagen and Fabienne Chapot.
It’s believed that the SS Daley deal came about through John Lewis’s long-term relationship with the British Fashion Council, and follows its inclusion of AWAKE Mode last year.
In menswear, the retailer is also expanding its selection of the existing labels it sells, including more exclusives from Barbour, Gant, Ralph Lauren and The Kooples.
Fashion director Rachel Morgans said the company still offers the quality and value expected with its fashion but it’s also introducing “sharper designs from exciting new designers, which will make our customers sit up and take notice”.
She added that menswear in particular is responding to customers getting “bolder with their choices” and that the chain wants to sell labels that make people stop and ask ‘where did you get that?’
The retailer continues to hunt down “cool, trending brands” and has seen a very good response to labels like AWAKE Mode, Hayley Menzies and The Kooples.
Unilever has filed its Q4 and full-year results and said that its underlying sales growth (USG) was 4.2%. But turnover on a reported basis was up only 1.9% at €60.8 billion.
Hourglass
Underlying operating profit jumped 12.6% to €11.2 billion, while reported operating profit was actually down 3.7% at €9.4 billion. For the fourth quarter USG increased 4% while turnover dipped 0.1% to €14.2 billion.
The news comes as it has also emerged that the company is close to announcing the purchase of plastics-free premium cosmetics brand Wild.
The six-year-old brand could be acquired from its founders and early-stage investors in a £230 million deal, which would be one of the firm’s most significant acquisitions for a while.
Wild sells refillable personal care products on a DTC basis with its most recent account (for 2023) showing sales up 77% at almost £47 million.
Back with Unilever’s results, the underlying and reported figures differ as the company continues to reshape its business, most particularly it’s demerging its giant Ice Cream operations with a separate stock exchange listing for them.
Looking specifically at the two divisions relevant to us — Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care — the former saw USG up 6.5% with reported turnover up 5.5% at €13.2 billion. The latter increased USG by 5.2%, but fell 1.5% on a reported basis to €13.6 billion. The two divisions account for 22% of group turnover each.
Beauty & Wellbeing delivered a strong full-year performance, with the underlying sales rise divided into a volume increase of 5.1% and price rises accounting for 1.3%. Volume growth was broad-based with strong performances from its Power Brands including Sunsilk, Dove, Vaseline, Ponds, Liquid I.V. and Nutrafol.
In Q4, Beauty & Wellbeing grew 5.2% with a 3.9% volume uplift.
The full-year performance reflects the ongoing premiumisation of its core Hair Care and Skin Care portfolio and the continued strength of its Prestige Beauty and Wellbeing portfolio, which combined, accounted for around 30% of Beauty & Wellbeing’s turnover.
That said, Prestige Beauty grew in ‘only’ mid-single-digits reflecting a slowdown in the US beauty market. Hourglass and Tatcha grew in double-digits while other brands including Paula’s Choice delivered low growth.
During the year, it completed the acquisition of K18, a premium biotech hair care brand, which grew in double-digits and will be included in underlying sales growth from February 2025.
Underlying operating margin improved 70bps with strong gross margin improvement partially reinvested in increased brand and marketing investment.
In Personal Care, Dove, which makes up 40% of the division’s turnover, grew in high-single-digits with the successful launches of a new range of whole-body deodorants and a serum shower collection, using active face care ingredients in body wash formats.
Skin Cleansing grew in low-single-digits with volume and price rises. Good growth in Dove was partially offset by declines in Lifebuoy and Lux, driven by challenges in Indonesia, China, and India.