Touker Suleyman: The Retail Builder Behind a Long TV Run

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Business Blog Media Editorial Team

Touker Suleyman has spent decades building businesses.

His main world is fashion. Retail too.

But millions of people know him for another reason. He became one of the familiar investors on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where his sharp questions often focused on costs, margins, stock and whether a business could actually make money.

His career was not one smooth rise.

He faced a major business collapse. He lost money. Then he started again.

Today, Suleyman remains active in business through companies linked with Low Profile Holdings, Hawes & Curtis and other investments. In June 2026, he announced his departure from Dragons’ Den. His previously recorded final series continued airing during 2026.

Quick Facts About Touker Suleyman

Fact	Detail
Full Name	Touker Suleyman
Born	August 1953
Age	73 as of September 2026
Birthplace	Famagusta, Cyprus
Nationality	British
Profession	Entrepreneur, retailer and investor
Main Industry	Fashion, clothing and retail
Known For	Hawes & Curtis, Low Profile Holdings and Dragons’ Den
Major Fashion Brand	Ghost
Dragons’ Den Debut	2015
Children	Two daughters
Major Award	Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award, 2024
Current Status	Active businessman and investor; announced his exit from Dragons’ Den in 2026

Early Life in Cyprus

Touker Suleyman was born in Famagusta, Cyprus, in August 1953.

His family was Turkish Cypriot.

He spent his first years in Cyprus before the family moved to Britain in 1958. Suleyman was around five years old at the time.

London became home.

The family settled in Bermondsey, South London. Starting life there was not simple. Suleyman arrived without speaking English.

He learned quickly.

His family worked in the restaurant trade, so business was already part of everyday life around him. He saw people work long hours, serve customers and manage money.

Those early years mattered.

School Years and a Serious Health Problem

Suleyman attended Peckham Manor secondary school.

He has said he earned eight O-levels.

His school years were interrupted by a serious infection in his left hand. He was around ten years old.

The condition became severe.

Doctors feared his hand might have to be amputated. He spent a long period receiving medical treatment and missed a large amount of school.

The hand was saved.

Some fingers were affected in their development, according to Suleyman’s own account.

He later spoke about that period as something that made him more determined. Basically, he learned very young that life can change quickly.

He Started in Accountancy

Fashion was not his first job.

Suleyman started working as an articled clerk at an accountancy firm in London. His family had encouraged him toward a stable profession.

The pay was small.

But the experience taught him something useful. He learned how businesses worked on paper.

He saw accounts.

He checked numbers.

He learned about costs, income and financial problems.

That knowledge later became very useful in business, especially while judging companies and investments.

Still, accountancy was not where he wanted to stay.

His Move Into Clothing

Suleyman’s route into fashion started through clothing sales.

He has recalled getting garments through a business connection and giving some to his grandmother. People around her wanted similar clothes.

More pieces were found.

They sold too.

Basically, a small opportunity started growing.

Suleyman moved further into the clothing trade and became involved in manufacturing. He later worked with Kingsland Models, a womenswear supplier.

The company supplied major British retailers.

Reported customers included names such as C&A, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop.

This was serious business now.

Suleyman had moved away from accountancy and into an industry that would define much of his working life.

A Major Business Setback

His career nearly went the other way in the 1980s.

Suleyman became involved with clothing company Mellins and acquired a substantial shareholding.

The business later became connected with Bamber Stores.

Problems followed.

Financial checks uncovered a large hole in Bamber’s accounts. Contemporary and later reports put the shortfall in the tens of millions of pounds.

The company went into receivership.

Suleyman suffered heavily.

He has spoken about having to sell his home while dealing with the financial damage.

That period shaped how he later looked at businesses.

Numbers mattered.

So did checking them properly.

His later television questions about margins, debt, stock and cash flow make more sense after looking at this part of his career.

Building Back Through Low Profile

Suleyman did not leave business.

He started rebuilding.

Low Profile Holdings became a main part of his business interests.

The group grew from clothing and manufacturing into fashion retail and investments across different consumer businesses.

Low Profile has been linked with brands including:

• Hawes & Curtis
• Ghost London
• Finery London
• Maids to Measure
• Loop Generation

Its wider investment interests have also included businesses in children’s products, health, books, crafts, technology and consumer goods.

Suleyman remains closely connected with Low Profile Holdings.

Companies House records have shown him as an active director and person with control in the company.

Hawes & Curtis

One of Suleyman’s best-known business stories involves Hawes & Curtis.

The British shirtmaker has a long history.

But the company had serious financial problems before Suleyman became involved.

Low Profile dates its acquisition of Hawes & Curtis to 2002, reportedly for a symbolic £1.

Suleyman then worked on rebuilding the brand.

Stores followed.

Sales grew.

The company expanded beyond its earlier position as a traditional Jermyn Street shirtmaker and became a much broader fashion retailer.

Companies House records continue to connect Suleyman directly with Hawes & Curtis.

He has also been publicly described as its owner and chairman.

The Hawes & Curtis story is a useful example of his business style. He often looks for firms with an established name but weak commercial performance, then works on the retail side, product range and costs.

Buying Ghost

Ghost became another major fashion purchase.

The womenswear company entered administration during the financial turmoil of 2008.

Suleyman acquired the business that year.

Reports at the time said the purchase protected around 142 jobs.

That detail matters because some online profiles give the wrong purchase year.

The well-supported date is 2008.

Ghost later became part of the wider fashion group linked with Suleyman.

Joining Dragons’ Den

Suleyman entered BBC’s Dragons’ Den in 2015.

He joined during Series 13.

That brought him to a much bigger public audience.

His style on the programme became easy to recognise.

He wanted numbers.

What does it cost?

What does it sell for?

Who makes it?

How much stock is sitting around?

Can the founder actually deliver the orders?

Simple questions. Tough answers.

His manufacturing and retail background meant he could quickly spot problems with pricing, margins and production.

He also liked physical products.

Fashion, food, children’s goods, beauty products and consumer brands regularly caught his attention.

Touker Suleyman’s Dragons’ Den Investments

Across his years in the Den, Suleyman made offers to many founders.

Businesses linked with his on-screen deals have included names such as:

• Bad Brownie
• Liquiproof
• Kokoso Skin
• Wool Couture
• TimberKits
• Gener8
• Peachy Lean
• Little Hoppa
• Mood Bears
• Sooper Books
• Sprive
• Swish
• Albus & Flora

There is one point readers should know.

A deal shown on television is not always the same as a completed investment.

After filming, companies go through due diligence. Terms can change. Some agreements fall apart completely.

So an on-screen handshake should not automatically be treated as proof that money later changed hands.

Why He Left Dragons’ Den

In June 2026, Suleyman announced that he was leaving Dragons’ Den.

He had spent more than a decade on the programme.

He said he felt it was time for new people to come through and bring fresh energy to the panel.

He also planned to keep working with entrepreneurs he had backed.

His departure did not mean he disappeared from television straight away.

Series 23 had already been recorded.

So his final episodes continued to air during 2026.

For now, the clearest description is simple: Suleyman has announced his exit from the programme, while his last recorded appearances form part of the 2026 series.

Touker Suleyman Net Worth

This needs careful wording.

Many websites state that Touker Suleyman is worth around £200 million.

That number has a real source, but it is old.

The figure was linked to the 2015 Sunday Times Rich List.

It should not be presented as his confirmed wealth in 2026.

His actual current personal net worth is not publicly verified.

A safer statement is this:

The Sunday Times estimated Touker Suleyman’s wealth at about £200 million in 2015.

Anything more exact for 2026 would be guesswork.

Family Life

Suleyman has two daughters, according to public profiles.

He has spoken and posted about his family at different times, but he keeps much of his private life away from the spotlight.

Reliable current information about a spouse or partner is not clear enough to state as fact.

So it is better left there.

Two daughters. That is publicly reported.

Awards and Recognition

Suleyman received the Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

The award recognised his long career in fashion and retail.

By then, he had spent roughly five decades working across clothing manufacturing, retail brands and investment.

It was a fitting moment.

His career had included success, failure, rebuilding and television fame.

What Makes His Career Different?

Suleyman did not become known through one startup.

His story is longer.

He worked in accounts.

Then clothing.

He built manufacturing businesses.

He faced a major financial crash.

Then he rebuilt.

Later came Hawes & Curtis, Ghost, more investments and television.

That mix explains why his advice often sounds practical.

He wants founders to know the numbers.

He wants real margins.

And he wants to know how the product reaches the customer.

Basically, the idea alone is never enough.

Current Status in 2026

As of September 2026, Touker Suleyman remains active in business and investment.

He is still connected with companies in fashion, retail and consumer products.

His long run on Dragons’ Den is reaching its end following his June 2026 announcement.

But retirement from business has not been announced.

Quite the opposite.

His public activity still centres on investing, retail and working with entrepreneurs.

Final Thought

Touker Suleyman’s career has never been a straight line.

That is what makes it interesting.

He started with accountancy. Then clothing took over.

A major business failure hit hard. He rebuilt anyway.

Hawes & Curtis came next. Ghost followed. Then millions of television viewers got to know him through Dragons’ Den.

Now in his seventies, he still has active business interests.

The TV chapter is closing.

The business work continues.

FAQs

How old is Touker Suleyman?

Touker Suleyman is 73 years old as of September 2026.

Where was Touker Suleyman born?

He was born in Famagusta, Cyprus, in August 1953.

What is Touker Suleyman famous for?

He is known for fashion retail, Hawes & Curtis, Ghost and his long run on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Does Touker Suleyman own Hawes & Curtis?

He has long controlled and led Hawes & Curtis and remains directly connected with the company through corporate records.

When did Touker Suleyman join Dragons’ Den?

He joined the programme in 2015 for Series 13.

Is Touker Suleyman leaving Dragons’ Den?

Yes. He announced his departure in June 2026, though his already-recorded Series 23 appearances continued airing during 2026.

What is Touker Suleyman’s net worth?

There is no verified current figure. The Sunday Times estimated his wealth at around £200 million in 2015.

Does Touker Suleyman have children?

Yes. Public sources report that he has two daughters.

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