#1514
Bernard Lewis & family
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Fashion retailer
- Industry
- Fashion & Retail
- Residence
- London
- Children
- 3
Biography
Bernard Lewis founded UK-based clothing retailer River Island Fashion in 1948; it now sells online and has stores in several European countries.
The business had revenues in 2022 of over $900 million.
His nephew Ben Lewis, who started as a store manager in 1990, serves as CEO.
Lewis and his family are also investors in property development and private equity across UK, Europe, US, Caribbean and Thailand.
About
Lewis launched his entrepreneurial career at age 20 by establishing a fruit & vegetable stall in a makeshift shack constructed on a bombsite in North London in 1946.
In 2025, River Island faced severe financial pressures, prompting a restructuring plan to avert bankruptcy.