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 40% of Premier Investments and 27% of Myer Holdings.
Premier Investments Ltd
(40% owned)
Investment firm
Chaired by one of Australia's richest men, Solomon Lew. Acquired clothing retail group Just Group in 2008.
Premier Retail Holdings Limited
Retailer
In 2025, Premier Retail was created by separating the Peter Alexander and Smiggle businesses from the rest of the Just Group. Myer Holdings later acquired the remaining parts of the Just Group.
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). 80% of its products are made in China.
Myer Holdings Ltd
(30% 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 Sass & Bide in 2011, Marcs and David Lawrence in 2017 and Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti, and Jacqui E in 2025.
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.
Just Group Ltd
Clothing retail
Bought by Soloman Lew's Premier Investments in 2008. Myer bought Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, and Dotti in 2025, with Premier Investments retaining Peter Alexander and Smiggle.
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
Fine Lines
Intimate Apparel
Kayser
Hosiery
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
Peter Alexander
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Smiggle
Stationery Stores
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
Basque
Womens Fashion
Bauhaus
Childrenswear
Blaq
Menswear (formal)
Blaq
Menswear (casual)
Chloe & Lola
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Chloe & Lola
Intimate Apparel
Collection
Womens Shoes
David Lawrence
Womens Fashion
Grab Denim
Womens Fashion
Grab Denim
Denim
Jack & Milly
Childrenswear
Kenji
Menswear (casual)
Maddox
Menswear (casual)
Marcs
Womens Fashion
Marcs
Menswear (casual)
Milkshake
Childrenswear
Miss Shop
Youth Fashion
Myer
Toy Stores
Myer
Electronics Stores
Myer
Department Stores
Myer
Homewares Stores
Myer
Clothing Stores
Origami
Childrenswear
Piper
Womens Fashion
Regatta
Womens Fashion
Regatta Curve
Womens Plus Size
Reserve
Menswear (casual)
Sass
Womens Fashion
Sass & Bide
Womens Fashion
Soho
Intimate Apparel
Sprout
Babywear
Tilii
Childrenswear
Tokito
Youth Fashion
Wayne Cooper
Womens Fashion
Zazou
Womens Shoes
Dotti
Womens Fashion
Jacqui E
Womens Fashion
Jay Jays
Youth Fashion
Just Jeans
Denim
Just Jeans
Womens Fashion
Just Jeans
Menswear (casual)
Portmans
Womens Fashion
Nine West
Womens Shoes