Which Dragon's Den investor founded the fashion retailer Hawes & Curtis's parent business?

Touker Suleyman founded the business associated with Hawes & Curtis. He acquired the shirtmaker in 2001 and used it as part of his expansion in fashion retail.

Hawes & Curtis was established in 1913 and became known for formal shirts and menswear. Under Suleyman's ownership, the brand developed beyond its traditional base, with a broader retail and online presence. His business interests also include the fashion company Ghost, which he acquired in the 1990s.

The wording matters because Hawes & Curtis itself predates Suleyman by many decades; he did not establish the original shirtmaker in 1913. He acquired and developed the company in the modern era. This distinction can cause confusion in questions that use “founded” loosely for a business owner. Suleyman joined Dragon's Den as an investor in 2015, bringing a fashion and manufacturing background to the panel.