Highcross Leicester is set to expand its retail offering this winter, welcoming four new brands across alternative fashion, footwear, jewellery and health and beauty.
Joining the centre’s line-up over the coming months are Unze London, Harli + Harpa, Taz Hair & Beauty and Blue Banana. Together, the new arrivals bring an exciting mix of established names and independent brands to the city centre.
Leading the new arrivals is Blue Banana, which will open a store on the lower mall at Highcross, bringing its alternative fashion offering to the shoppers of Leicester and beyond. Established in 1997, the retailer specialises in clothing, body jewellery and accessories inspired by gothic, punk and emo styles, alongside band merchandise and alternative lifestyle brands.
The new store, which will be located next to Damaged Society, will join the brand’s growing network of 18 stores around the UK and will also offer in-store piercing services. It is due to open on 7 November.
Footwear and fashion retailer, Unze London, is set to return to Leicester with a new 5,443 sq ft store in the former Footasylum unit, creating 10 jobs.
Originally founded in London in 1989, the brand is now headquartered in Lahore, Pakistan, where it maintains an established online presence, a network of 36 international physical stores and one in Ilford, East London.
Its new Highcross location, set to open in early December, represents a return to the city for the retailer after it previously operated a store in the city in 2007, and marks an important step in the brand’s renewed UK retail expansion.
Australian-born affordable jewellery brand, Harli + Harpa, will also join Highcross in the former Claire’s unit on the upper mall, bringing its contemporary jewellery offering to Leicester.
Established in 2024, the brand was founded on the belief that jewellery should be part of everyday life, with collections designed for personal expression through layering, stacking and individual styling. With existing stores in Birmingham, Reading and Glasgow, its new Highcross store—set to open at the end of November—will add to its growing UK retail presence.
Meanwhile, Taz Hair & Beauty, voted one of Leicester’s top 10 salons, completes the line-up.
Founded by Leicester-born Taz Sumra, whose passion for hair and makeup began in childhood, the business has grown from offering services to family, friends and the local community into a professional beauty business spanning hair styling, makeup and bridal services.
Due to open before Christmas in the Upper Mall, in the former Argento unit, the store will complement Highcross’ existing health and beauty offering, which already includes brands like Laser Clinics UK, Therapie Clinic and Better Brows.
Michelle Menezes, centre director at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our four new retailers to Highcross. Each brings something different to our retail line-up, from alternative fashion and affordable footwear and jewellery, to specialist beauty services, giving visitors even more choice when they spend time with us.
“It’s great to see these brands choosing Highcross for their next step. We’re looking forward to seeing these new stores open and welcoming them to the centre.”
For more information on Highcross, visit www.highcrossleicester.com, or check out its social media channels, on Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram.
