Aurora Fashions

Last updated

Aurora Fashions
Industry Fashion retail
Predecessor Mosaic Fashions
Founded2009
Defunct2015
Headquarters Iceland
UK
Number of locations
1250+
Area served
International
Products Clothing
Owner Kaupthing Bank
Website www.aurorafashions.com

Aurora Fashions was a holding company of several retail fashion brands, formed in 2009 to purchase a number of businesses from the collapsed Mosaic Fashions. The company operated over 1,250 stores in 38 countries, including franchises, under the Oasis, Warehouse and Coast brands. [1]

Contents

History

In March 2011, the company announced plans to spin off Karen Millen, [2] which was completed in 2012. [3] Karen Millen was separated from the group to be owned by Aurora's parent Kaupthing Bank. [4]

Aurora announced further plans in March 2013 for a wider restructuring. As part of this, Coast was also separated from the rest of the group, under the ownership of Kaupthing, [5] and it was planned that Oasis and Warehouse would be merged under a new single parent company, Fresh Channel. [6] [7] The two brands were eventually de-merged as the Oasis and Warehouse Group, led by Liz Evans. [8] [9]

On 30 April 2020, it was announced that both Oasis and Warehouse went into administration with the loss of 1,800 jobs. [10]

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References

  1. Holland, Tiffany (6 March 2013). "Aurora Fashions to be broken up in radical restructure". Retail Week. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  2. Rushton, Katherine (1 March 2011). "Aurora Fashions to spin off Karen Millen". Retail Week. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  3. Ruddick, Graham (3 January 2015). "Aurora moves closer to break-up as Karen Millen boss departs". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. Taylor, Charlie (15 January 2016). "Mixed trading conditions for Aurora Fashions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  5. Butler, Sarah (20 August 2013). "Kate Bostock to head up Coast". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  6. Taylor, Gemma (6 March 2013). "Aurora Fashions to restructure business". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  7. "Losses widen at fashion giant". Insider Media. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  8. Neville, Simon (27 November 2015). "Oasis: Fashion brand turns profit for first time in three years as it goes upmarket". The Independent. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  9. Gallagher, Philip (27 November 2015). "Oasis carries Warehouse as group turns profit". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  10. "Oasis and Warehouse to close permanently, with loss of 1,800 jobs". The Guardian. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.