RETAIL: The company, Kookaï, sees it as “an opportunity to bounce back and improve its financial situation”
It is “not an end in itself”, assures the sign. This Wednesday, Kookaï announced its placement in receivership due “to the economic difficulties encountered by the ready-to-wear sector in Europe, which the Covid-19 crisis has only accentuated”, according to a press release from the female fashion brand.
This legal procedure before the Paris Commercial Court “is not an end in itself”, reassures the company which sees it as “an opportunity to bounce back and improve its financial situation” and declares that the 121 French stores will remain open. and the 320 active employees. Kookaï has “seriously lacked means and support from the banks”, and regrets the ready-to-wear brand, citing in particular refusals of loans guaranteed by the State (PGE).
The specter of Camaïeu
Created in France in 1983, the brand developed in Australia in the 2000s, and was bought in 2017 by Australian businessman Rob Cromb from the Vivarte group (Caroll, Minelli, La Halle, Naf Naf, Chevignon …). The clothing sector remains very marked in France by the sudden judicial liquidation of Camaïeu at the end of September, leading to the dismissal of 2,100 employees.
Other major brands are also being shaken up, such as the Go Sport Group, the holding company of the brand specializing in sport, declared in mid-January in receivership by the Grenoble commercial court. On Friday, the elected staff of the ready-to-wear brand Gap France exercised their right to alert in order to obtain information on the situation of their company, bought in 2021 for one euro by the HPB group (Hermione , People & Brands), which announced that it would resell it to Go Sport.
