UK Fashion Payment Practices: A Mixed Bag of Style and Slow Pay

The UK fashion sector shows higher than average payment performance, but a closer look reveals significant disparities.

The Numbers

• 29 companies analysed
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 63.9/100
• UK average across all sectors: 50.0/100
• Fashion sector is 13.9 points above the UK average
• Top score: 100/100 (GAP EUROPE LIMITED)
• Bottom score: 17.6/100 (THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC)

What Stands Out

While the fashion sector's average of 63.9 is above the national average, the wide range between the top and bottom payers is concerning. Essentially, some fashion businesses pay brilliantly, while others are dragging the sector down. Let's dive into who they are.

Best Payers

1. GAP EUROPE LIMITED - 100/100
2. HARVEY & THOMPSON LIMITED - 87.7/100
3. INTIMATE APPAREL RETAIL UK LIMITED - 87.44/100
4. MORLEYS STORES LIMITED - 86.77/100
5. NEXT RETAIL LIMITED - 85.96/100

Worst Payers

1. THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC - 17.6/100
2. THE HUT.COM LIMITED - 26.4/100
3. ACCESSORIZE BRANDS LTD - 37.4/100
4. CURRYS GROUP LIMITED - 41.9/100
5. HEATHCOAT FABRICS LIMITED - 48.4/100

Regional Patterns

The data by region is pretty patchy, with only one company represented in the East of England, giving an average score of 84.2. The largest sample size (London, with 11 companies) has an average of 66, which is only slightly above the national average for the fashion sector. The East Midlands, with 6 companies, scores an average of 60.8. This suggests location may not be as strong a predictor of payment behaviour as other factors.

One-line takeaway: While the fashion sector's average PaymentCheck Score is 63.9, a significant range exists between the top payer (100) and the bottom payer (17.6), highlighting inconsistency in payment practices. Are you chasing late payments? Try our late payment calculator.

2025: The Story

The fashion sector saw a notable decline in payment performance for 2025, with the average score dropping by 2.4 points to 63.9/100 across the 29 monitored companies. This year, payment health stories were mixed, with some major shifts both up and down. REISS LIMITED made a significant leap, improving by 29.9 points to reach an impressive 74.7/100, showcasing a strong commitment to better supplier relations. Conversely, HEATHCOAT FABRICS LIMITED experienced the steepest drop, falling by 16.9 points to a concerning 48.4/100. Other well-known retailers like SEASALT LIMITED (-10.5 points to 58.7/100) and H&M HENNES & MAURITZ UK LIMITED (-5.9 points to 59.7/100) also saw their scores deteriorate, reflecting broader pressures impacting payment practices across the industry. The introduction of new entrants like HONOR TECHNOLOGIES (UK) CO., LTD at 76.7/100 shows that strong performers can still emerge. Suppliers should scrutinize individual buyer scores closely, as the overall sector decline masks critical variations in payment reliability.