Disturbia, the Northumberland-based alternative clothing and lifestyle brand, has reported a 50% increase in revenues for the year ended January 2026, driven by international expansion and a broader product range. The company, which trades as Harper & Willow Ltd, saw revenues climb from £35.1m to £52.8m, while pre-tax profits rose from £8.5m to £12.5m.
From T-shirt startup to global brand
Founded in 2003 by Northumbria University fashion and photography graduates Francis and Helen Major, Disturbia began with a small loan from Francis's parents to print T-shirt designs. The business gained early traction when the tops were discovered by Julian Dunkerton, co-founder of Superdry and Cult Clothing, at a trade show. The brand's name is a portmanteau of 'disturb' and 'suburbia', reflecting its focus on unconventional clothing inspired by dark popular culture, subversive iconography, and a British punk DIY ethic.
Today, Disturbia manufactures and sells dresses, tops, jackets, shirts, jumpers, jeans, and accessories including jewellery, footwear, and homeware through its website and app. The company has offices in Cramlington and London.
Financial highlights and global growth
Accounts for the year ended January 2026 show operating profit reached £12.5m, up from £8.2m, while overall profit for the year was £9.35m, up from £6.35m. Ordinary dividends of £16.67m were paid. A breakdown of turnover reveals £16.35m came from the UK, while £36.5m was generated from rest of the world markets, meaning more than half of all sales now come from outside the UK.
Employee numbers rose from 48 in 2025 to 68, increasing the wages bill from £2.27m to £3.27m.
Investment and expansion strategy
The company received initial backing from Refined Capital Partners (RCP) in 2023. Earlier this year, Digital Fuel Capital took a minority stake in Disturbia, further supporting accelerated expansion in the US, which already represents nearly half of the brand's global turnover.
In the accounts, CEO Richard Leeson said the company launched a new European fulfilment centre in January 2025, adding to existing centres in the UK and US. He stated: “Turnover in 2026 increased by 50.5% to £52.8m from £35.1m in 2025. The key drivers behind this growth being an increase in the product offering which now includes a broader range of lifestyle and accessories as well as expanding clothing offerings, more investment into digital marketing spend to reach a wider audience and improved customer proposition.”
Leeson added: “In January 2025 we opened a fulfilment centre in the EU which allowed us to provide an enhanced offering to our customers in that region, from speed of delivery, lack of cross border duties and the ease of returns this has helped us grow our presence in the EU and provide a strong foundation for future growth and development.”
Margins under pressure from tariffs
The company's gross margin dropped by 1.2% due to the impact of US tariffs and strategic decisions to increase promotional activity and discounting during a challenging final quarter. Leeson said: “We firmly believe that the market opportunity exists for Disturbia to continue to grow and reach a wider audience as we continue to invest in product development, brand awareness and digital marketing, customer proposition in all of our key regions and look to expand into new revenue channels.”
