Duchess boosts Irish designer’s profitability

Orla Kiely’s fashion empire — helped in no small way by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton — continued to prosper last year with pre-tax profits up by 73% to £354,253 (€408,408).

The group recorded the increase in profit in spite of revenues decreasing by 3%, going from £8.24m to £8m in the 12 months to the end of March this year.

The directors attribute the drop in revenues to the business moving away from lower margin discounting and concentrating on growing the group’s retail and internet business.