Brands gear up for global expansion with entry into Nordstrom and Macy’s, and projected multi-million-pound turnover.
Two of the UK’s most exciting fashion brands, Raffya/Raffya Kids and Lily and Lionel, part of the PDS Group and under the Design Arc umbrella, are continuing their upward trajectory with a series of new retail partnerships and record-breaking growth in 2024/25.
Both brands have officially launched with Nordstrom and Macy’s in the USA in August, marking a significant step in their global expansion strategy. The partnerships span the full offering from Raffya, Raffya Kids and Lily and Lionel, reflecting rising international demand following rapid success in the UK.
Image credits: Raffya|Raffya Kids|Lily & Lionel
While both brands are best known for their strong direct-to-consumer foundations, they have experienced explosive wholesale growth over the past six months, with launches including House of Fraser, Next, Debenhams, Oasis, Littlewoods, Coast, Warehouse, and Freemans. By mid-September, they’re set to expand into the Middle East and Europe, with more notable retail partners to follow.
Backed by strategic investment in fulfilment and operational infrastructure, the brands have delivered exponential year-on-year growth. Raffya has increased its turnover from £110,000 in 2024 to a projected £1.8 million in 2025, representing an incredible 1536% rise. Lily and Lionel has also seen impressive acceleration, growing from £220,000 in 2024 to an anticipated £1.2 million in 2025 with a 445% uplift.
To support the scale-up, the business has integrated each brand into its own distribution centre and adopted advanced software to streamline operations, improve margins, and enable further global expansion.
At the centre of this momentum is Gio Najar, who joined the business in 2024 as Executive Director. With a background in both finance and fashion, Gio previously founded and built Chi Chi London into a £25 million brand, transforming it into one of the UK’s leading occasionwear labels. With a proven track record of building and scaling brands from the ground up, he has played a pivotal role in driving growth and positioning Raffya and Lily and Lionel for international success.
“We’ve always believed in the global potential of each brand, but turning that belief into reality has taken a huge amount of focus, change, and the right team around us. Over the past year, we’ve restructured operations, built out our wholesale strategy, and invested heavily in brand, and now the data is catching up with the vision. There’s a huge appetite for all brands in the US, so securing partnerships with some of the world’s biggest retailers is a major milestone. This is a key step in our wider international expansion plans. We have lots of exciting initiatives to execute this year, and this is just the beginning of what’s to come,” said Najar.
Raffya, Raffya Kids and Lily and Lionel all sit under the Design Arc umbrella, part of the wider PDS Group portfolio. While each brand operates independently, they benefit from shared resources and operational expertise to support sustainable growth at scale.
Launching in August, the brands will be available both online and in-store at Macy’s and Nordstrom.
