Fashion Pioneer’s Sudden Death in Pattaya Sparks Questions Amid Ongoing Legal Pressures
Quentin Griffiths co-founder of online fashion giant ASOS, has died after falling from a high-rise apartment building in Pattaya, Thailand, according to local authorities. He was 58.
Police were called on February 9 after a man was discovered dead at the base of an 18-storey condominium in the popular resort city on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast. Investigators later identified the deceased as Griffiths, a British passport holder who had been alone in his apartment at the time of the incident.
An autopsy reportedly found no evidence of foul play. Authorities stated there were no signs of forced entry or struggle inside the residence. However, investigations remain ongoing, and officials have not disclosed further details regarding the precise circumstances of the fall.
Griffiths co-founded ASOS in London in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan. The company initially operated under the name “As Seen On Screen,” reflecting its original model of selling clothing inspired by outfits worn by celebrities in film and television. In 2002, the brand rebranded as ASOS and rapidly expanded into one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers, with designs worn by high-profile figures including Rihanna and former US First Lady Michelle Obama.
Griffiths left ASOS in 2005 but continued pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. He later co-founded Achica, an online furniture retailer; EBTM, a music-focused fashion brand that ultimately went into administration; and Adili, an ethical clothing platform that was eventually sold for a nominal sum.
Thai police indicated that Griffiths had recently been involved in two court cases, which may have contributed to personal stress. No additional information has been released regarding those legal matters.
His death marks a tragic chapter in the story of one of Britain’s early e-commerce pioneers, whose work helped reshape online fashion retailing at the dawn of the digital shopping era.
