Brit High St fashion brand goes BUST as it collapses into administration

ONE of the first casualties of the UK High Street in 2018 has been announced.

By Nicholas Bieber /

UK High Street GETTY

ANOTHER CASUALTY: The UK High Street is suffering big blows as a result of falling footfall

More than 300 jobs are at risk after a fashion retailer collapsed into administration.

East, a womenswear brand with 34 shops and 15 department store concessions, announced the news today.

The company, which has stores in London and Newcastle, initially fell into administration in 2015.

But it was rescued by Indian chain store Fabindia, which then closed 15 stores in a pre-pack deal.

East PH

BUST: East has gone into administration

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BHS (British Home Stores) closed amid controversy surrounding chairman Philip Green in 2016 PA Archive/PA Images
BHS (British Home Stores) closed amid controversy surrounding chairman Philip Green in 2016

    Despite this, plummeting footfall and tightened wallets on high streets across the UK has led to administrators being called in less than a year later.

    The shops will now remain open while administrators FRP Advisory, the firm handling the demise of BHS, evaluates options for selling the business.

    Geoff Rowley, joint administrator, said: “Unfortunately East is the latest high street casualty following a tough trading period at the end of last year."

    "The retailer was making progress to expand its footprint, particularly looking at international opportunities, however it has been unable to secure the necessary funding to realise those plans", he added.

    East GETTY

    ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: The stores will stay open while options to sell are looked at

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    A familiar sight in every high street in Britain Bloomberg via Getty Images
    A familiar sight in every high street in Britain

      The news rounds off a hellish few weeks for the British High Street, with New Look most recently looking set to close dozens of shops across the UK.

      It came after Marks and Spencer and House of Fraser announced huge losses in sales, while Toys R Us revealed it is closing 26 stores in the UK.

      And Thomas Cook is set to close 50 of its travel agents, while Lloyds Banking Group is shutting down a raft of Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank branches.