Kinky Knickers Manufacturer Falls into Administration

 

In a bid to illustrate how UK manufacturing could be revived the Headen & Quarmby factory featured in the Channel 4 series Mary’s Bottom Line complete with eight new apprentices.

Despite an initial run of success the factory, which also produces garments for high street retailers such as M&S and John Lewis, had recently fallen on some difficult financial shortfalls, a knock-on affect from cancelled orders and a number of clients going bankrupt over the Christmas period.

Last week, the factory’s 33 staff were informed that they were to be made redundant after BDO, an accountancy firm, was called in. BDO said it is investigating options to recommence trading and fulfil customer orders, with a view to selling the business as a going concern.

Mary Portas said in a statement on Facebook that she is utterly surprised by the news.

“Right up until this announcement, Headen & Quarmby were telling me of their ambitious plans for our brand and the others they manufacture under licence as well as plans they had for their own ranges. It’s especially sad as they were even opening an Academy later this month to help share the skills and learning.”

“It’s so sad that the problems have been caused by cash flow shortfalls due to bad debts arising from some smaller retailers going bust over Christmas and a large retailer cancelling an order – this is of course the sad reality of retail and manufacturing in Britain today.”

Kinky Knickers continues to trade and, depending on the outcome on the sale of Headen & Quarmby, may look elsewhere for another British manufacturer.

 

Image of Mary Portas at the factory with a pair of Kinky Knickers courtesy of Channel 4 ‘Mary’s Bottom Line’