Amanda Wakeley Holdings, the London-based women's and bridal wear label, has been purchased by the private equity investments company W Holdings for an undisclosed sum. W Holdings said it plans to turn Amanda Wakeley into a leading international brand over the next five years. The label has seen sales double over the past three years to approximately 4 million pounds, or $7.3 million. The firm was purchased from the London-based holdings company and textile supplier International Clothing Design Ltd. Wakeley will remain at the center of the development strategy, and will hold 20 percent of the equity. After an absence of six years, Wakeley returned in February to London Fashion Week, with Sienna Miller and Minnie Driver in its front row. "The completion of this transaction marks a key milestone in the development of the business," said Wakeley, chief executive of the company. The designer has a flagship store in London, and eight concessions across the U.K. She is stocked in more than 50 stores internationally, including Barneys New York.
