Trendy fashion stores emerged as the bright young things of the beleaguered retail sector yesterday.

New Look and Republic, which cater for the younger market, reported rising like-for-like sales, while Debenhams said that its younger, design-led brands had outperformed the mass market. New Look's sales rose by 2.8 per cent in the 14 weeks to January 3, or 14.5 per cent including new stores.

Carl McPhail, the chief executive of New Look, said: “Our core fashion and value credentials have enabled New Look to trade through the difficult current economic environment, increase market share and make further investments in our international expansion.”

Republic, the young fashion chain that stocks G-Star and Bench products, reported like-for-like sales of £40.8 million, up 6.8 per cent. It hopes to go into the premises left empty by the collapse of companies such as Woolworths, USC and Zavvi. Total sales rose 18.8 per cent to £47 million.

The privately owned group plans to increase its floor space by 20 per cent next year, adding 12 stores to its 93-strong portfolio. Tim Whitworth, the chief executive of Republic, said: “Our performance has been driven by that consumer, the 15- to 25-year-old, who doesn't have mortgages or fuel bills.”

Debenhams said that it had sold 30,000 Jasper Conran and Julien Macdonald handbags during the 18 weeks to January 3.

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