Online fashion retailer Asos defied the general retail gloom with a 118 per cent increase in year-on-year sales over the nine weeks to 16 January, and a doubling of sales for the 42 weeks to the same date.

Revenue at the business was £81m for the 12 months to 31 March 2008, while profit before tax reached £7.3m in the same period.

Asos now has 1.2 million active customers, representing a 112 per cent increase over the past 12 months, the company said.

"Sales, visitors, conversion and average basket value were all at record levels," said Asos chief executive Nick Robertson.

"We helped maximise sales over the Christmas period by running a number of free delivery weekends and product promotions."

The business remains "cautiously optimistic" about the future and the positive prospects for internet-based retail despite the recession, said Robertson. He added that Asos will continue investing in the infrastructure needed to support its expansion.