Much-loved clothes shop to close for good after 115 years

A family-run clothing company has announced it will permanently shut its doors after trading in Leicestershire for 115 years. The Irish Clothing Company said its last remaining store in Loughborough will be closing in the summer, with 11 jobs set to be lost.

The company was set up in 1910 by businessman Joseph Brown. It currently remains under the stewardship of his grandson, Tom Brown. Mr Brown says the decision to shut the company has been taken ‘with great sadness and very heavy hearts’. He adds that the current market environment created ‘insurmountable odds’ the company could not overcome.

‘We are immensely proud of the business we have built of the 115 years of our trading. ‘It has been an incredible journey and one we will never forget.’. Mr Brown thanked the business’s customers, saying: ‘It has been a privilege, but despite our best efforts we feel there is no way forward.

‘A combination of market forces have been the reason for this – the rise of online sales, rising costs. ‘So many independent clothing shops have already gone and we are the last man standing.’. The company’s first store opened on Silver Street in Leicester.

It closed in 2018 and a Caffè Nero opened in its place. Last year was one of the worst ever recorded for the British high street, with over 13,000 store closures from big brands. This year has not gotten off to a good start either, with brands such as Pandora, Swarovski, Bershka, Urban Outfitters and River Island all announcing plans to close their flagship stores on Oxford Street, along with a host of others.

Recent predictions from the Centre for Retail Research estimate that a further 17,349 shops will close this year. Notable closures include 33 Homebase stores which are all set to shut this month after the company went into administration in November and four WHSmith shops that closed in the first half of February.

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