B ernard Lewis is a British retail magnate who made his fortune with the fashion chain, River Island. He began his career in the 1940s, working at his family's grocery business. He soon branched out on his own, starting a business selling knitting wool from a shop in London. This venture evolved into the Lewis Separates chain of boutiques in the 1960s.

He eventually consolidated his various retail concepts under the single brand name, River Island, in 1988. The brand became a staple on the British high street, known for offering stylish and affordable fashion for men and women. The company is a private, family-owned enterprise, with Lewis's nephew, Ben Lewis, now serving as CEO. At over 90 years old, Bernard Lewis remains involved in the business he built from a single wool shop into a major fashion retail empire.