Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Owner of Joie and Current/Elliott Files for Bankruptcy Protection

The Collected Group, which owns brands including Equipment and Joie, filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. Equipment.

The Collected Group Company, a women’s fashion firm co-owned by private equity giant KKR & Co., filed for bankruptcy protection with plans to slash debt and give senior lenders ownership.

Under a reorganization proposal that must be approved by a judge, the company would eliminate $150 million in debt, the second time in three years the company restructured its balance sheet. In 2018, affiliates of KKR and Callodine Commercial Finance swapped about $40 million in debt for ownership as part of an out-of-court restructuring, according to court papers.

KKR and Callodine then tried to sell the company beginning in late 2019. That effort was disrupted by the pandemic, the company said. After retail sales revenue fell by 85 percent and wholesale revenue by 70 percent in 2020, TCG filed for bankruptcy.

The company has been closing stores and trying to boost online sales. While under court protection, TCG will negotiate with landlords as it restructures its finances. The Collected Group was founded in 2001 and its brands include Joie, Equipment and Current/Elliott. It sells itself as the choice of many celebrities and social media stars like Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker and Eva Longoria, according to court records.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some potential buyers offered to acquire the company’s brands before the bankruptcy, but TCG rejected the bids as too low, the company said in court papers. Should higher offers come in, TCG would consider changing its bankruptcy strategy and sell itself, the company said.

The company owes senior lenders, including KKR and Callodine, more than $185.3 million, according to court records.

The case is The Collected Group, 21-10663, U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Delaware (Wilmington).


In This Article
Topics

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Retail
Chronicle the ‘Retail Apocalypse’ and emerging retail models, including DTC brands.

How Rent the Runway Came Back From the Brink

The rental platform saw its stock soar last week after predicting it would hit a key profitability metric this year. A new marketing push and more robust inventory are the key to unlocking elusive growth, CEO Jenn Hyman tells BoF.


Why Esprit’s Ambitious Rebrand Fell Short

The company is in talks with potential investors after filing for insolvency in Europe and closing its US stores. Insiders say efforts to restore the brand to its 1980s heyday clashed with its owners’ desire to quickly juice sales in order to attract a buyer.


How Adidas Sambas Took Over the World

The humble trainer, once the reserve of football fans, Britpop kids and the odd skateboarder, has become as ubiquitous as battered Converse All Stars in the 00s indie sleaze years.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024