Liquidator for The Bridal Atelier says wedding dresses stolen, boutique likely traded insolvent

Police have been called in by liquidators winding up The Bridal Atelier after a “significant quantity” of wedding dresses went missing from its South Melbourne boutique after it shut.

The Bridal Atelier operated boutiques in Melbourne and Sydney. Picture: Nikole Ramsay

Wedding dresses were stolen from a Melbourne bridal boutique after it went bust in a high-profile business collapse that threw dozens of nuptials into disarray.

Police have been called in to probe the theft of a “significant quantity” of stock from The Bridal Atelier uncovered by liquidators picking their way through the financial wreckage of the now closed bridal business.

Liquidator Pearce & Heers also says the business likely traded while insolvent although it warns parties who are owed money is it probably not worth launching legal action against the owner.

The allegations are contained in a report into the collapse of The Bridal Atelier, which operated stores in Melbourne and Sydney and specialised in bohemian-style gowns.

The Bridal Atelier operated from Bank St in South Melbourne.

Pearce & Heers were appointed liquidators to the business, which operated a boutique in South Melbourne and another in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, on June 19.

Liquidator Michael Dullaway said the business held a “quantity of bridal gowns and accessories” at the time of his appointment.

“I had arranged for our agents to collect the stock and other company assets from the premises, however, in between our agents inspecting the assets and returning to collect the assets there was a quantity of assets stolen,” Mr Dullaway said in his report to creditors.

“Certain company assets were stolen after my appointment and after the company’s landlord had taken possession of the premises and changed the locks.

“The remaining assets were collected by our agents and are being held at their warehouse pending further investigations. In due course I will arrange for our agents to sell the remaining stock.”

The Bridal Atelier was owned and operated by Erin Juchima.

The report notes the landlord took possession of the bridal store either on the day the business collapsed or the day after.

Pearce & Heers were provided with a supervised visit of the store on June 27 and attended again to collect the dresses on July 5, Mr Dullaway says in his report.

“When our agents arrived on 5 July 2023 it became apparent that a significant quantity of the stock, an Apple desktop computer and various other items had been stolen,” he said.

“The theft occurred between these two dates, although the actual date which the theft took place has not been determined.

“I have lodged a stolen report with Victoria Police and submitted a claim under the insurance cover which the company held.”

Mr Dullaway said the business likely become insolvent – unable to pay its debts – in October 2021.

He believes creditors could pursue an insolvent trading claim against business owner Erin Juchima although he notes “the director does not appear to have the financial capacity to meet any claim for insolvent trading which may be available”.

The report also shows The Bridal Atelier had loaned $27,233 to another company owned by Ms Juchima at the time of its collapse.

Mr Dullaway said it is unclear if any of these funds can be recovered.

The Bridal Atelier collapsed owing creditors around $263,000 with the tax office accounting for about $135,000 of this amount.