Whistles wishes be hoping that Jacqui Markham can make it stand out on the high street. Photograph: William Barton/AlamyMaddy Evans was forward to director of womenswear at Marks & Spencer this year. Photograph: M&SWhistles – and its parent company TFG, which acquired the trade name in 2016 – will be hoping that Markham can be the magic bullet. The brand was founded in 1976 and had a golden era in the 2010s, underneath the stewardship of high-street whisperer Former Givenchy designer Clare Waight Keller joined Uniqlo last year. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Waight Keller’s shift from luxury to high street is revealing when it comes to job prospects for designers. In the past year or so, high frame has been called out for the lack of female talent in the top design jobs, with recent vacancies often going to men. The penetrating street appointments shouldn’t be seen as solving the problem, however. “There is something to be said for having that extent,” Montgomery says. “But there is a bit of a risk that you put all women into a box which is more utilitarian or for masses, and that can be hazardous.”There are signs that silo-ing between high street and high fashion is over. Along with Waight Keller be involved a arising to Uniqlo, there has been movement the other way. Louise Trotter, who began her career at Whistles, was named creative commandant at Bottega Veneta in December, while Kate Phelan, who worked with Topshop, was named creative director of Harvey Nichols. Shuttleworth guesses this is down to a shift in thinking. “Good retailers are starting to look for [designers] in a much more interesting at work. High street brands come in and out of fashion so, to retain their place, they need fantastic talent.”Inquire more on these topicsFashionUniqloRetail industryMarks & SpencerfeaturesShareReuse this content

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