Marc Worth, the Founder of Stylus, a prominent trends and insight service, has sadly passed away at the age of 61. Known for his innovative work in the fashion industry, Worth, along with his brother Julian, also co-founded the renowned global trends service WGSN. However, their journey in the trends forecasting sector began with their family business, Heat-Seal Textiles, where they gained valuable experience in the clothing industry.
In 1997, the Worth brothers pioneered a revolution in trend forecasting by launching WGSN, an online platform that transformed the industry. During its early days, WGSN delivered its forecasts through CDs or satellite broadcasting, as the internet was not as developed as it is today. Through sheer dedication and perseverance, the brothers turned WGSN into the fashion industry’s leading trends business. Despite facing challenges during the dotcom bust in the early 2000s, they eventually sold the company to publishing giant EMAP for a staggering £140 million in 2005.
Following the success of WGSN, Worth briefly owned and struggled to revive the Ossie Clark label for 18 months before deciding to sell it. However, he maintained a diverse range of business interests and became an active investor and mentor to numerous new companies and young entrepreneurs from various backgrounds. Worth also held significant positions as the Chairman of UK Israel Business (UKIB), on Israel’s Shenkar College Board of Governors, as a Trustee of The Tel Aviv Foundation, and as the Chairman of TLVinLDN.
In 2010, Worth launched Stylus, where he served as the CEO until April 2022, when he transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman. Victoria Rennie, the current CEO of Stylus, expressed deep shock and sadness upon hearing the news of Worth’s passing. She admired his passion, humor, and indomitable presence, recognizing that his impact on the business and the industry would continue to reverberate for many years. Rennie assured that Stylus would carry on honoring Worth’s legacy by evolving and expanding the business he founded. Nevertheless, she emphasized that their thoughts and sincere condolences were with the entire Worth family during this challenging period.
Useful links:
– Stylus Website
– News Article on Marc Worth’s Death
