Fletcher Jones, an iconic Australian retailer that has been in operation since the 1920s, has announced it will close all remaining stores by the end of January. The announcement was made by the current owner, Matthew Gowty, this week, marking the end of an era for the Victoria-based brand.
The brand, known for selling casual and formal wear for men, went into administration 15 years ago, leading to the closure of several stores and staff layoffs. Since then, Fletcher Jones has struggled to regain momentum in Australia's increasingly competitive retail sector.
Fletcher Jones first opened in 1924 when founder David Fletcher Jones began selling textiles in Warrnambool, on Victoria's south-west coast. A handful of retail stores opened in the 1930s and 1940s, with textiles manufactured by in-house tailors. In 1947, the company built a garment factory on a large plot of land in Warrnambool.
At its peak, the brand had a workforce of 3,000 and operated manufacturing centres in Warrnambool and Mount Gambier. The closure comes just days after another iconic Australian fashion label, Sass & Bide, announced it would be closing its standalone stores and Myer concessions.
