Investment conglomerate
The Lew family, headed by rag trade tycoon Solomon Lew, owns a swag of Australian clothing retail companies. While Solomon owns Voyager Distributing Co and 42% of Just Group, his three children each control parts of the Lew empire. Peter Lew manages Australian Retail Investments and the Australian licenses for Zara and FCUK, Steven Lew manages Playcorp and Global Retail Brands, while Jacqueline Lew manages Nine West.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2014)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Lew Group
Praise
Criticism
Information
Fined for building illegal pool
Solomon Lew, owner of Premier Investments, struck a deal with Mornington Shire Council in June 2012 to remove a pool he had built on Crown Land without permission and remediate the land in exchange for negligence charges being dropped. Lew is to pay Council's legal fees of $150,000 and a fine of $50,000.
Source: The Age
(2012)
Wikipedia profile on Solomon Lew
Wikipedia profile on Lew Group head, Solomon Lew. Includes details of controversial business deals, including the Yannon transaction and the Etiket transaction.
Source: Wikipedia
(2014)
Company Details
Type:
Private company
Subsidiaries:
Voyager Distributing Company Pty Ltd
Clothing wholesaler
One of Australia's largest clothing importers and distributors. Part of Solomon Lew's web of companies.
Anthea Crawford (Australia) Pty Ltd
(50% owned)
Clothing manufacturer
Estimated 95% made in Australia,
5% made in Asia. Part owned by Solomon Lew's Voyager Distributing Company.
Simon De Winter Group Pty Ltd
(50% owned)
Underwear
100% Australian designed and owned. Half owned by Solomon Lew's Voyager Distributing Company. Holds the licence for Hanes underwear in Australia.
SL Investments Group
Investment firm
Steven Lew is the Executive Chairman SL Investments Group which has extensive investments globally across the public and private sector, seed capital, property, green energy, technology and payment platforms.
Global Retail Brands Australia Pty Ltd
Homewares retail
Operated by Steven Lew, son of rag trade tycoon Solomon Lew. Global Retail Brands operates the 170 homewares stores plus ecommerce websites HOUSE.com.au, RobinsKitchen.com.au, YourHomeDepot.com.au and PetHouse.com.au.
PlayCorp Group of Companies Pty Ltd
Apparel, toys and homewares distributor
Founded in 1984. PlayCorp supplies more than 13,000 products to more than 6,000
shop fronts, including independent retailers and larger retailers
such as Target, Rebel Sport, Coles, Kmart, Myer and Big W. Major merchandising partner for brands including AFL, The Simpsons, Warner Brothers, Disney, Marvel, Lucas Films. Most of their products are sourced from Asia. Operated by Steven Lew, son of retail veteran Solomon Lew.
BrandBank Group Pty Ltd
Clothing retail
Owned by Peter Lew, son of Australian retail magnate, Solomon Lew. Operates Seed Heritage, French Connection, Allkinds and Commonry stores in Australia. Acquired stationery retailer Kikki.K in 2021.
FC Australia Pty Ltd
Clothing
French Connection was rebranded in Australia to Unison in August 2023.
Century Plaza Investments Pty Ltd
Property developer and investment company
Solomon Lew's investment vehicle. Owns 42% of Premier Investments.
Premier Investments Ltd
(42% owned)
Investment firm
Chaired by one of Australia's richest men, Solomon Lew. Lindsay Fox is also on the board of Directors. Acquired clothing retail group Just Group in 2008.
Just Group
Clothing retail
Bought by Soloman Lew's Premier Investments in August 2008. Brands include Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, Peter Alexander, Dotti and Smiggle. They operate over 950 stores.
Myer Holdings Ltd
(31% owned)
Department stores
Founded in Bendigo, Vic in 1900 and merged with Coles in 1985. Acquired by a consortium of US private equity firms in 2006, who floated the company on the Australian Stock Exchange in Oct 2009. They operate 67 stores around Australia. Acquired designer labels Sass & Bide in 2011, Howard Showers and Charlie Brown in 2014 and Marcs and David Lawrence in 2017.
sass & bide Pty Ltd
Women's fashion
Founders Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton sold a 65% share of their fashion label to Myer in Feb 2011. Myer acquired the remaining 35% in Sept 2013.
Breville Group Ltd
(27% owned)
Household electrical appliances
Australian company that develops and distributes consumer electrical products worldwide. Brands in Australia are Breville (kitchen appliances), Breville-Nespresso (co-branded coffee machines) and Kambrook (kitchen appliances). They also have a license agreement for exclusive distribution rights with Philips (grooming and garment care).
J L Footwear Pty Ltd
Footwear
Nine West was established in the USA in 1978 and opened in Australia in 1995. In 2020 Nine West is available in 80 locations across Australia, including independent stores and concessions in Myer and David Jones. Part of Solomon Lew's web of companies.
Contact Details
Products / Brands
Voyager Distributing Co Anthea Crawford (50% owned)
Anthea Crawford
Womens Fashion
★ some garments accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia
Darn Tough
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Darn Tough
Underwear & Socks
Fine Lines
Intimate Apparel
Kayser
Intimate Apparel
Simon de Winter
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
House
Homewares Stores
Playgro
Baby & Pre-school
Commonry
Womens Plus Size
FINE-DAY
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Kikki.K
Stationery Stores
Unison
Menswear (casual)
Unison
Womens Fashion
Unison
Everyday Apparel
Dotti
Womens Fashion
Jacqui E
Womens Fashion
Jay Jays
Youth Fashion
Just Jeans
Denim
Just Jeans
Womens Fashion
Just Jeans
Menswear (casual)
Peter Alexander
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Portmans
Womens Fashion
Smiggle
Stationery Stores
Basque
Womens Fashion
Basque Woman
Womens Plus Size
Bauhaus
Youth Fashion
Bauhaus
Childrenswear
Bauhaus
Menswear (casual)
Blaq
Menswear (formal)
Blaq
Menswear (casual)
Chloe & Lola
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Chloe & Lola
Intimate Apparel
Collection
Womens Fashion
David Lawrence
Womens Fashion
Grab
Womens Fashion
Grab
Denim
Innovare Made in Italy
Womens Shoes
Jack & Milly
Childrenswear
Jeff Banks
Menswear (formal)
Kenji
Menswear (casual)
Maddox
Menswear (casual)
Marcs
Womens Fashion
Marcs
Menswear (casual)
Milk & Honey
Youth Fashion
Milkshake
Childrenswear
Miss Shop
Youth Fashion
Myer
Toy Stores
Myer
Electronics Stores
Myer
Department Stores
Myer
Homewares Stores
Myer
Clothing Stores
Origami
Babywear
Piper
Womens Fashion
Piper 16-22
Womens Plus Size
Regatta
Womens Fashion
Regatta Curve
Womens Plus Size
Reserve
Menswear (casual)
Sass
Womens Fashion
Sass & Bide
Womens Fashion
Sass & Bide
Intimate Apparel
Soho
Intimate Apparel
Sprout
Babywear
Tilii
Childrenswear
Tokito
Youth Fashion
Tokito Curve
Womens Plus Size
Trent Nathan
Womens Fashion
Trent Nathan
Menswear (formal)
Wayne Cooper
Womens Fashion
Zazou
Womens Shoes
Breville
Air Purifiers
Breville
Heating & Cooling
Breville
Microwaves
Breville
Coffee Machines
Breville
Small Kitchen Appliances
Kambrook
Irons
Kambrook
Heating & Cooling
Kambrook
Microwaves
Kambrook
Vacuum Cleaners
Kambrook
Small Kitchen Appliances
Ronson
Small Kitchen Appliances
Ronson
Heating & Cooling
Nine West
Womens Shoes