US fashion firm VF to open new London office in Soho

VF, the US owner of The North Face and Timberland brands, will invest in its first major London headquarters, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Fashion firm VF has signed a 10-year lease to take all of the 15000 square feet Axtell Soho building. It will open in 2019.

It will use the property, which has been redeveloped by Estates & Agency Group, to house offices, showrooms and design spaces. Currently it is understood to have a much smaller presence in the capital.

Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF EMEA group president, said: “The close interaction between this facility and our VF brand stores in Regent Street, Oxford Street and Carnaby Street will create the opportunity to amplify and evolve the engagement with final consumers.”

The deal may help calm some jitters in the commercial property market that Brexit is making London less attractive to international businesses.

Agent CBRE advised the tenant, and Levy Real Estate and LDG Commercial let the space.

Simon Tann of Levy Real Estate said: “Axtell Soho’s combination of leading-edge design, a Soho location, stunning offices, terraces and a rooftop garden space were key to attracting an occupier of VF’s calibre.”