boohoo group plc’s selling spree has continued after it sold Nasty Gal to a New York company for $16 million (£12m).
The group, which now trades as Debenhams, acquired Los Angeles-based Nasty Gal in 2017 for $20m after it collapsed into bankruptcy.
Founded in 2006, Nasty Gal had previously raised more than $65m in funding. However after founder Sophie Amoruso left the business, it was no longer able to pay back its creditors and filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code protection in November 2016, citing more than $20m in unsecured claims.
boohoo, which was seeking to build its customer base and brand recognition in the United States, stepped in.
Fast forward almost a decade and Nasty Gal is described as a “non-core” asset as Debenhams Group – which owns the boohoo, PrettyLittleThing and Karen Millen brands – transitions from pure online retailer to a marketplace-led business model.
Last week we reported that it had sold its Sheffield distribution centre to Primark as it moves to the model which it describes as ‘capital-lite, stock-lite, cost-lite and cash generative’.
Nasty Gal has been sold to WSG Brands, a New York firm building a portfolio of “labels with cultural heat and untapped global potential”.
Its website suggests that it only owns one other brand so far – Von Dutch.
Nasty Gal generated gross merchandise value of £12m in FY26 and adjusted EBITDA of £400k.
CEO Dan Finley said: “Our turnaround continues at pace. The disposal of this non-core asset aligns with our strategy and further strengthens the balance sheet following the £90m sale of our Sheffield Distribution Centre.”
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