You’ll no doubt be aware of the annual Sunday Times Rich List, but such is its powerful and ever-growing success, there’s now a specific Beauty Rich List too.

The newspaper has published 30 entries of both familiar and unfamiliar names that have scaled the heights to built wealth by taking on (or joining) the established high order. Topping the list? Charlotte Tilbury, with her now-Puig-owned brand worth over £1 billion and her estimated personal wealth standing at £350 million.

The list comprises 19 women and 14 men with 14 of them aged in their twenties or thirties. Together, they’ve amassed personal fortunes adding up to nearly £2.2 billion.

In second placed are Mark and Mo Constantine, having accumulated £249 million via their high street mass retail brand Lush.

Third place goes to Sanjay Vadera of The Fragrance Shop fame, with a personal wealth of £245 million, while fourth spot goes to international hair brand and former hairdresser celebrity John Frieda, now worth an estimated £150 million. Fifth-placed Vishal Karia, via his Afinity Fragrances business, is worth £114 million.

At joint sixth, Elliot Isaacs, who launched skincare brand Medik8 in 2009, is worth £100m, and is joined by Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck and family, of Toni & Guy hairdressing fame, and Paige Williams, with her P Louise also worth £100m.

Susie Ma, the Tropic Skincare brand founder, at £73 million, and GelBottle brand founder Daisy Kalnina, at £70 million, round out the top 10.

Elsewhere rounding out the top 30 are: Trinny Woodall, (Trinny London), £54 million at 12th; Jenna Meek (Shrine and Refy), £53 million; Susan Harmsworth (ESPA), £50 million; Martin and Gavin Rae (Cloud Nine), £50 million; Jess Hunt (Refy) £46 million; Mike Harris and family (The Belgravia Centre), £42 million; Maxine and Darcy Laceby (Absolute Collagen), £34 million; Elliot Barton/Charlotte Tiplady, (Tatti Lashes), £32 million each; Georgie Cleeve and family (Oskia), £28 million; Oliver Mennell/ Nicola Elliott (Neom), £25 million each; Mark Curry (The Inkey List), £17 million; Jamie Genevieve (Vieve), £15 million; Jo Malone, (Jo Malone), £15 million; Freddy Ward (Wild), £15 million; Colette Laxton (The Inkey List), £12 million; Ama Amo-Agyei (Plantmade), £10 million; and Charlie Bowes-Lyon (Wild), also £10 million.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has appointed Ben Smith, Matalan‘s former chief trading officer, as its Clothing managing director to lead the Tu brand.

Reporting to chief commercial officer, Rhian Bartlett, Smith brings substantial clothing retail experience to the wide-ranging Tu brand.

He joined Matalan in March 2023 as interim buying and merchandising director before taking up the chief trading officer position just two months later. 

Before stepping down in January, he led the company’s transformation, overseeing Commercial Strategies for over £1 billion turnover in Clothing and Home. He has also previously held trading directorship roles at mass fashion brands Pep&Co and Primark.

Smith’s expected to replace to replace Christine Kasoulis, who has been leading the supermarket’s clothing, home, and furniture ops for nearly three years, according to reports.

In a January statement for the Christmas period, Sainsbury’s reported positive trading. In Q3 (16 weeks to 4 January) total sales increased 3.7% and over Christmas they rose 3.8%. However, branded  general merchandise and TU clothing saw a 0.1% sales dip, but in the Christmas period this changed to a 3.4% increase.

Clothing sales grew by 2.2%, “outperforming the market and all supermarket competitors, reflecting significant improvements in range and availability”.
 

Independent British fashion retailer Palava has launched its first ever collaborative collection with London’s Natural History Museum.

The marine-inspired collection is the result of the brand’s founder, designer and nature lover, Bryony Richardson gaining exclusive access to the museum’s extensive archive and rare books library.

Poring over a “treasure-trove of illustrations filled with incredible creatures from the depths of the ocean”, the result is a “unique capsule collection of three, marine life-inspired prints” – ‘coastal migration’, ‘ocean jellyfish’, and ‘the coral reef’ – which feature on the range’s signature silhouettes.

“When the opportunity presented itself, we knew we had to go for it,” said Richardson. “Collaborating with the Natural History Museum felt just up Palava’s street and to have special access to the incredible archives to pick and choose from was a total joy. With our fascination for the natural world, coupled with our tendency to collect all sorts of weird and quirky specimens and objects, it feels like a match made in colourful heaven.”

So the collection “pays homage to the talented illustrators and scientists whose important work has helped develop our understanding of the natural world”. 

Maxine Lister, head of Licensing at the Natural History Museum, added: “Given our aligned values and dedication to sharing the wonder and beauty of marine life, it should come as no surprise that we’ve collaborated on a wonderful collection showcasing the incredible archive of illustration at the Museum. Creating a collection which is both sustainable and striking was and continues to be key for the… Museum, and this new collection is no exception.” 

The current Palava x Natural History Museum collection  will see a further drop arrive on 5 April on the brand’s website and into its North London store. Prices range £89 for its Coral Reef Kit shirt and Coral Reef Peggy blouse to £198 for the Coastal Migration Louise Dress and Ocean Jelly Fish Cynthia Dress.