Rochdale-headquartered Footasylum has secured a deal to acquire the business and assets of British streetwear brand Trapstar after the company fell into administration.
The sports-fashion and lifestyle retailer described the move as a new partnership with Trapstar founders Mikey Aryee, Lee Langaigne and Will Thomas, who will remain with the business and continue to lead its design and creative direction.
Footasylum said it will provide the infrastructure and retail reach to support the next phase of the brand’s growth, with plans to expand Trapstar’s presence across selected Footasylum stores and online channels.
Founded in West London in 2006, Trapstar has become one of the UK’s best-known streetwear brands, attracting celebrity endorsements from Rihanna, Stormzy and Jay-Z, alongside partnerships with Puma and OM New York.
However, administrators from Interpath were appointed to Trapstar Collective Limited on 29 May, putting 57 jobs at risk. Frasers Group had also been reported as a potential bidder for the business.
The transaction, comprising the sale of Trapstar’s business and assets, was overseen by Will Wright, Howard Smith and Rebecca Makaruk of Interpath, who were appointed joint administrators.
Trapstar’s latest filed accounts, covering the year to the end of 2023, showed turnover of £29.5m and pre-tax profits of £1.67m. The company’s accounting period for 2024 was extended by six months and no accounts have yet been filed. It also faced strike-off action in July 2025, although this was withdrawn the following month.
Footasylum, which is backed by European private equity firm Aurelius, has grown into one of the UK’s leading streetwear and sportswear retailers and has increasingly invested in developing its own fashion brands.
Hannah Mercer, CEO of Footasylum, commented: “Trapstar is one of the most iconic names to have come out of British streetwear. For more than two decades it has shaped culture, built a distinctive identity and earned a loyal following that extends far beyond the UK. It sits at the heart of fashion, music and culture, and its relevance to the consumers we serve made it a natural fit for Footasylum.
“Through labels such as Monterrain and Zavetti Canada, we have demonstrated our ability to build and scale brands that resonate with our audience, and we are confident that we can bring that same expertise, platform and investment to support Trapstar’s next phase of growth. Mikey, Lee and Will have built something genuinely extraordinary and we are proud to be the partners who help them take it to the next level.”
Trapstar CEO and co-founder Mikey Aryee added: “This is the right partnership at the right time. Hannah and the Footasylum team understand what we’re building. We’re focused on growing our product range, scaling our footwear collection which launched this year, and using Footasylum’s retail network to get it in front of the right people.”
Ravi Patel from Interpath, who led the transaction on behalf of the joint administrators, said: “We are delighted to have secured this transaction with Footasylum, which will provide a strong and stable platform for continued growth while preserving Trapstar’s unique heritage and creative identity.”
