Studley-born James Holder’s SuperGroup fashion retailer upset its investors and suffered a self-inflicted drop in share price in the summer of 2012. For a while it had a torrid time in the markets after putting out a profits warning which resulted in a 38 per cent drop in share price.

As it turned out, the warnings were over-pessimistic and 2011-12 profits and revenue were up on the previous year. Turnover was £313.8 million while profits after tax increased from £30.1 million in 2011 to £30.6 million. The share price has recovered to previous levels.

In the six months to October 28, 2012, pre-tax profits grew a further 13 per cent to £14.7 million boosted by high levels of sales of jackets, gilets and sweatshirts.

James Holder began his career in fashion 22 years ago when he sold T-shirts from the back of his mother’s car at BMX events.

Now, a bankruptcy, a marriage and a couple of companies later, he runs the uber-cool streetwear fashion label Superdry which he founded in 2003.

Brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, 40 year-old James Holder went to college in Leamington Spa. While he was there he began designing T-shirts, and founded the BMX and skateboarder label Bench. He teamed up with Julian Dunkerton, co-founder of Cult Clothing who is still his business partner, and they set about marketing their designs. They ordered 2000 of each garment from their Walsall manufacturers and took them to potential outlets. Barrie Suddons, owner of Bristol-based Westworld Stores liked what he saw and the brand was assured.

Eventually he signed away his shares in Bench and was declared bankrupt in 1998.

But he carried on designing and he founded Superdry nine years ago. The firm’s designs became huge hits when David Beckham was seen wearing them on his 2005 calendar. Other celebrities followed suit including Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and now Superdry is the favoured streetwear label of the stars. Singer Pixie Lott is a devoted fan.

In March 2010 Superdry’s parent company SuperGroup floated for £395 million, netting James Holder £18.8 million. The share price tripled almost immediately and James Holders 15 per cent share is worth around £200 million.

In 2011 Superdry acquired its French and Benelux distributors, enabling further European growth. It has since clinched a franchise deal in India. Superdry products are now sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

The label’s big sellers, besides its graphic T-shirts, include windcheaters, gilets and lumberjack shirts. James Holder is rarely pictured wearing anything else other than his own brand.

He now lives in the Cotswolds with his wife Jessica, son Noah, two horses and an Aston Martin DBS.