The retail brands used to belong to Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group, which fell into administration in 2020. The group’s brands have since been picked off by rival firms.
Boohoo, the online fashion retailer, has bought Dorothy Perkins, Burton, and Wallis for £25.2 million.
As part of the deal it will receive the three brands’ stock and online businesses, but not their physical shops.
As a result, 214 stores are set to close while 2,450 staff will lose their jobs, the BBC reports.
However, the job losses are only a part of the total fallout as the Arcadia group employed a total of 13,000 people at the time of its collapse.
Last week, it was reported that another online fashion retailer ASOS had bought out a number of other former Arcadia names – Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, and HIIT – for £295 million.
Again, the deal included the brands but not the shops, resulting in the losses of around 2,500 jobs, according to the Mirror.
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The loss of Debenham’s 118 high street stores will result in the loss of up to 12,000 jobs, according to reports.
Regarding Boohoo’s recent purchase of Dorothy Perkins, Burton, and Wallis, chief executive John Lyttle said it was an opportunity to ensure “their heritage is sustained”.
He said the deal “aims to transform them into brands that are fit for the current market environment”.
Dominic O’Connell, BBC business correspondent, said UK councils must now face the challenge of revitalising their high streets following the closures.
