INTERNATIONAL fashion group Hugo Boss has chosen McArthurGlen York for its first UK outlet store.

A ten-year lease has been signed for the organisation to move into 3,850sq ft near the north entrance on March 26. About 15 people are expected to be employed.

The space used to be occupied by Iceberg, the ladies' fashion chain which pulled out of the UK; Casa Italia, the menswear branch whose lease came to an end; and women's underwear emporium Discrete Collection which went into receivership.

The new Hugo Boss will sell both menswear and womenswear from the "Hugo" and "Boss" ranges which offer tailored clothing, sportswear and accessories at discounts of up to 50 per cent off normal retail prices.

It joins other leading designer brands at York such as Armani, Thomas Pink and Burberry, and brings the number of stores at the York centre to 110, employing about 1,000 people.

Knutt Brokelmann, managing director at Hugo Boss, said: "We are really looking forward to the opening of our outlet store at McArthurGlen.

"The shopping centre provides an excellent environment for outlet retailing."

Norma Middlemiss, the centre manager, said: "Hugo Boss is a strong addition to the range of top brands already at our York outlet. The mix of menswear and ladieswear is excellent and this has been reflected in the 45 per cent increase in footfall since the third and final phase was opened last year - a total of about three million visitors a year."

Updated: 09:13 Tuesday, March 19, 2002