Alice McCall: Voluntary administration for Australian fashion designer
A well known Australian fashion business has gone in to voluntary administration and its designer says it was “necessary” to “edit down” the business.
Confidential
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Top Australian fashion designer Alice McCall has gone into voluntary administration.
The celebrated fashionista says though that she is still open for business and will continue to operate with the aim of restructuring to ensure its future.
“It is with a heavy heart that due to the unprecedented effects that COVID-19 has had on our economy, as well as some unsustainable bricks and mortar rental obligations, I have had to make a necessary decision to edit down my business, with the objective of building a more sustainable business model for the future,” McCall said.
“I have still got plenty of drive in me to continue to create, and continue to connect with the Alice McCALL customer. I intend to only get better, armed with the experience of 17 years of business under my belt, and the desire to keep on creating.”
The news comes after McCall announced a collaboration for a childrens collection with Cotton On Kids.
McCall started the label in Sydney nearly two decades ago and has consistently been one of our top designers here and abroad.
Her clothes have been worn by celebrities including Beyonce, Kylie Minogue, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne.
There are currently 14 bricks and mortar stores across Australia with the label stocked internationally.
SVP Partners’ Ian Purchas and Jason Porter have been appointed administrator with staff notified of the development this morning.
“Through this period of change, first and foremost I want to thank and show gratitude to my team, my work colleagues and of course our customers,” McCall said. “There is nothing that fuels me more than a customer sharing their experience of a meaningful memory that they have lived whilst wearing an ‘Alice’ garment. This truly is what motivates me to do what I do. I pride myself on being ethical, honest and transparent in business, and because of this I have had on majority a fantastic long-lasting committed team, this is a doctrine I live by. And through this process of change in my business, this I believe will only get stronger.”
In a statement, SVP Partners said taking the step to go in to voluntary administration had been a difficult one for McCall and that she had “taken that step as a responsible director with a view to continuing the business, albeit restructured to allow its stronger sales channels to continue”.
“Unfortunately that will require the closure of a number of its stores, and the redundancy of some employees,” SVP Partners said. “These steps have not been taken lightly, but have been necessary to give the company the best chance of survival whilst retaining a large number of its team and providing a return to its creditors. The details of same will be dealt with during the Administration and advised to creditors as required by the legislation.”
Purchas concluded that he believed McCall as a brand would “emerge from the Administration a more resilient business which will continue to provide quality fashion garments”.
