Ratchet Clothing, created by 18 year old Dhillan Bhardwaj from Derbyshire, has teamed up with the UK’s largest prime national shopping centre operator intu, opening a 1,300sqft store at intu Lakeside. Famed for its signature tie-dye tees and statement street-wear, this is Ratchet’s first shopping centre store.
The fashion brand has also created a 30-piece exclusive range, only available at the transactional website, intu.co.uk, providing the retailer with access to millions of offline and online customers.
Dhillan, who has an impressive 400,000 social media following, said: “It’s a dream come true to have opened a store at intu Lakeside. I’m really excited about the launch of an exclusive range on intu.co.uk too. With the support of intu, everyone everywhere will be able to get hold of the latest Ratchet style.”
Soon to receive the Young Entrepreneur of the Midlands award, Dhillan has successfully established the business since its birth in 2012. It’s predicted that the business will double its turnover to £1 million in 2014.
Julian Wilkinson, regional director of intu, said: “Ratchet Clothing has been a great success story to date and intu Lakeside’s 25 million annual footfall of fashion focussed customers will definitely welcome the addition of this trendy new retailer. intu’s national scale coupled with its digital connectivity strategy means we can offer retailers real added value and the opportunity to discover new customers across the UK.”
Digital engagement has influenced the success of Ratchet from the beginning, as Dhillan’s first order originated from a picture of his first design which was posted on Facebook. Since then the brand has had interest from teenagers and young adults across the UK, America and Japan making it one of the most popular independent clothing lines on Facebook.
Celebrities are also endorsing the new fashion label, including Miley Cyrus and Perez Hilton, who helped get the brand trending world-wide with #ratchetmileysweat. More recently Lauren Platt from this year’s X Factor and ITV’s Keith Lemon can be seen wearing the trendy fashion label. Not only are the celebrities embracing the brand, earlier this year Dhillan was invited for tea at No.10 where the Prime Minister congratulated the teen on his success.
From his first Facebook post, to the opening of his first store in Long Eaton, employing a team of 20 staff, meeting celebrities, going for tea at No.10, winning awards, to opening his first shopping centre store, the last two years have definitely been eventful for this young teen with a dream and a steely determination to succeed.
