Jeanswest Shuts Down 90 Stores, And More than 600 of Jobs at Risk
Australian clothing store Jeanswest has announced its plunge into voluntary administration, a tremendous blow to the country’s retail sector. In the announcement, made on 26 March, 2025, over 90 stores would close and the lives of more than 600 employees would be ruined. The retailer has succumbed to collapse twice, this being the second time. The first time, the company ventured into administration occurred in 2020.
The parent company, Harbour Guidance Pty Ltd, engaged administrators from Pitcher Partners Melbourne to manage the process. One of the administrators appointed, Lindsay Bainbridge, cited challenging economic times and the falling viability of brick-and-mortar stores as the key factors in the decision. Bainbridge added, “The owners have done everything they can to keep Jeanswest going, but market conditions mean sustaining bricks-and-mortar stores is not viable and unlikely to improve.“
Jeanswest, which has been in business for 53 years, was originally founded in Perth in 1972. It became a family name in Australia by retailing trendy and affordable denim apparel. The retail landscape has altered dramatically in the last few years, with more competition from online retailers as well as shifting consumer tastes. Although the company has attempted to become accustomed to it by making a rescue attempt prior to that by Harbour Guidance in 2020, the company had not managed to maintain its place in the market.
The store managers have confirmed that the physical stores will remain shut but there are possibilities of continuing the online retailing operations of the brand. Bainbridge confirmed that all restructuring options are on the table and the priority will be to clear the existing inventory to make returns for the creditors. A mid-season sale has already been scheduled as part of this plan.
The closing of Jeanswest outlets is merely one example of a larger movement in the Australian retail landscape. The recent collapse of Mosaic Brands, which controlled a collection of fashion brands, further serves to highlight the problems traditional retailers are currently encountering. Amongst these reasons mentioned by analysts include rising operating costs, changing consumer patterns, and the dominance of overseas-based e-commerce platforms.
For Jeanswest staff and loyal customers, the news is decidedly disappointing. Bainbridge acknowledged the impact, stating, “This is a tough day for hundreds of Jeanswest team members, and we will be working directly with them to provide clarity and information about the next steps.”
