Touker Suleyman
Touker Suleyman has 50 years' retail and manufacturing experience and is best known as the owner of British menswear brand, Hawes & Curtis and womenswear label, Ghost. Touker joined the Den in Series 13.
After a false start in accountancy, Touker kicked off his retail career at the age of 18. He entered into a joint venture in a leather factory and soon after established a clothing manufacturer, supplying to some of the biggest names of the British high street.
Touker’s rise in the business world has not been without challenges. In the 1980s auditors identified significant debt behind one of his business ventures and he had six weeks to find £2 million. Unfortunately a potential investor pulled out, forcing the business into liquidation, and he had to start again from nothing.
Touker went on to build a thriving international clothing manufacturer which still sits at the heart of his businesses. He is also now a serial entrepreneur, backing seven retail and commercial property businesses. Touker has a keen interest in supporting start-ups and invests in a number of small British companies including Bikesoup (marketplace & store for pre-owned/new bicycles), Matchstick Monkey (baby teethers & toys) and Sonisk (on-the-go toothbrushes & dental care).
Total pledged to invest in the Den - almost £3m.
Investments include:
- Timberkits (S13, hand crafted wooden automata toys)
- Tru Tension (S15, tools & products for motorbikes and bicycles)
- Wool Couture (S15, British made range of crafting kits in knitting, crochet, weaving, macrame & embroidery)
- Gener8 Ads (S18, browser and app that allows users to earn from the data they share)
- Little Hoppa (S19, wooden baby furniture & eco-friendly toys)
- Mood Bears (S20, plush bears available in 8 emotions helping with children & adults mental health)
- Bobhead (S20, motorcycle apparel & protective wear)
- Pop-Up Games (S20, pop-up books that transform into familiar classic games)
