Organisation: Top Shop



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The signing of Kate Moss to design fashion lines for Top Shop should have been a major business coup for Sir Philip Green, head of Arcadia Group, "a masterstroke - teaming up the most famous face in fashion with one of the coolest high street names" (Daily Mail, 5/10). Unfortunately, the partnership came at a heavy price with the sudden resignation of Top Shop's brand director Jane Shepherdson, the woman "credited with turning Topshop into an edgy high-street fashion emporium" (Telegraph, 6/10).

Sir Philip was quick to refute suggestions that Ms Shepherdson's departure was linked to Kate Moss, asserting that the decision to sign the supermodel had been "unaminous" (Sun, 5/10), his former leiutenant simply deciding "it is time for a change" (KamCity.com, 6/10). The press remained unconvinced, however, with headlines alluding to friction between the leading players. "Top shock: Kate Moss and the boss - the inside story of a fashion feud", ran the Independent (8/10), while megastar.co.uk spoke of "tears and big fat huffs in the rag trade" under the headline "High street handbags at dawn" (5/10).

Sir Philip admitted his disappointment, but remained sanguine: "We have got a great team … and all the things the brand has been doing we plan to continue" (Times, 7/10).