Touker Suleyman bought the fashion retailer Hawes & Curtis in 2001 before joining Dragon's Den.
Suleyman acquired Hawes & Curtis, a British shirt and clothing brand, in 2001. He used the business as part of a broader career in fashion retail and manufacturing, areas that became central to his profile as an investor.
He later bought the womenswear brand Ghost, another important part of his fashion-business history. Suleyman joined the British Dragon's Den panel in 2015, bringing retail, sourcing and brand-building experience to the show.
Hawes & Curtis is distinct from the retail chains associated with other dragons. The question identifies both the company and the acquisition year because Suleyman has owned or invested in several fashion businesses during his career.