Ted Baker has announced it will close all of its 31 remaining UK stores by Tuesday this week.
Over 500 jobs are at risk from the closures, which include the group’s 12 stores in London, including in all four of the capital’s major airports.
It came as the firm behind Ted Baker’s UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), fell into administration in March this year and its administrators closed 15 shops and cut 245 jobs.
The decision to shutter the remaining shops was triggered after the Authentic Brand Group – which acquired Ted Baker in 2022 – stopped paying its suppliers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ted Baker first opened in Glasgow in 1988 and has picked up impressive celebrity endorsements including Amal Clooney and Emma Stone.
Ted Baker is closing all 31 of its remaining stores by Tuesday after the brand fell into administration earlier this year
A Ted Baker store on Regent Street in London. The brand had 12 stores across the capital, as well as shops in all four of London’s main airports
Ted Baker at London Bridge. 15 stores closed in April after No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), fell into administration in March
It also had a strong presence in department stores including concessions in House of Fraser, Fenwick, Selfridges and over 20 locations in John Lewis stores.
Stores in the Republic of Ireland, including in Dublin and Kildare, are also closing.
But in 2019, its founder, Ray Kelvin, famously left the business in 2019 after allegations he forced female employees to embrace him and sit on his lap, as well as massaging his employees and kissing their ears.
Mr Kelvin denied all alleged misconduct.
Authentic Brands, the US-based company behind Juicy Couture and Reebok, retains ownership of Ted Baker’s intellectual property.
Ted Baker’s licensing agreements for stores in cities in Asia and the Middle East also remain unaffected by the collapse.
On Sunday, the brand’s retail website carried the message ‘Goodbye for now’, adding that it would no longer take new orders, with customers given 14 days for returns.
A Ted Baker shop in Covent Garden. The brand was acquired by Juicy Couture and Reebok parent Authentic Brands
A Ted Baker store showing a clearance sale in July. Customers have 14 days for online returns and no new orders are being accepted
John McNamara, chief strategy and transition officer for Authentic Brands Group, previously told Fashion Network: ‘We wish that there could’ve been a better outcome for the Ted Baker employees and stakeholders.’
Announcing the brand’s bankruptcy last month, joint administrator Benji Dymant said: ‘Ted Baker is an iconic British brand with strong partners around the world.
‘These store closures, whilst with a regrettable impact on valued team members, will improve the performance of the business, as Authentic continues to progress discussions with potential UK and European operating partners for the Ted Baker brand to bring the business back to health.
‘We would like to thank Ted Baker team members and partners for their ongoing efforts and support at this difficult time.’