Victoria Beckham’s Fashion Brand Struggled Financially

Victoria Beckham revealed that her namesake fashion brand nearly faced closure due to careless spending, leaving the company “tens of millions of dollars in the red.” In a new Netflix documentary, she shares her journey, including early reliance on her husband David Beckham for financial support as she worked to prepare for a Paris Fashion Week show.

“This business is everything to me. It’s been quite the journey,” she reflects. “We lost almost everything. There were really dark times. I felt like a firefighter, crying every day before work. We were in deep trouble financially.”

Financial Struggles and Necessary Changes

Victoria candidly discusses how David became not just her partner but also a critical business ally during tough times. They realized hard decisions had to be made.

David recalls the moment they assessed his investments in the brand, noting that Victoria was proud yet faced the difficult task of asking him for more funds. “It broke my heart a bit because she was wealthier than I was when we met. It was tough for both of us,” he acknowledged. Ultimately, it led them to think about bringing in outside investment.

“The whole house collapsed,” Victoria admits. “I was losing my business, and I needed help.” Eventually, she connected with investor David Belhassen, who described the situation as a “disaster.” He pointed out the excessive expenses that had amassed over time, including £15,000 a year for office plants. Who knew, right?

Belhassen challenged Victoria, stating that she needed to completely overhaul her business. “It was hard, but she listened,” he said. Victoria later admitted that the truth was hard to swallow. “I didn’t go to business school; I came from showbiz. I had no idea about the waste,” she added, listing absurd expenses like multiple different linings for her outerwear and flying chairs globally.

“I’m shocked now, but I allowed it to happen,” she expressed, believing people hesitated to say no to her because of her celebrity status. “We needed to bring Victoria Beckham back to being Victoria Beckham, and I did.”

On Personal Struggles

Along with her business struggles, the documentary also touches on Victoria’s past eating disorder. David pointed out the harsh scrutiny women faced regarding their appearances, which affected Victoria significantly. He voiced concern that such criticism impacted the relaxed home life he cherished with her.

Victoria vividly remembers a painful encounter a few months after giving birth to her first child when she was asked to weigh herself live on television. “I laughed it off, but I was really young, and it hurt,” she recalled. The pressure to maintain her appearance took its toll, leading her to grapple with her self-image.

She candidly reflected, “I really started doubting myself and didn’t like what I saw. I lost all sense of reality.” Victoria acknowledged that, though she portrayed confidence, it was often a façade. “When you have an eating disorder, you become very good at lying,” she confessed.

Supportive Partnership

As Victoria shared her struggles with David, he asked her what she was trying to prove, to which she conceded she often felt the need to validate herself. Their conversation showed deep mutual support, with David reassuring her that she didn’t need to prove anything to him. After all, he was aware of the pride she took in her achievements.

“Yes, it’s a success. It feels good,” Victoria acknowledged, feeling ambitious about her future. “I haven’t stopped yet,” she joked, hinting at her ongoing aspirations and determination.