Kinky Knickers falls into administration

Headen and Quarmby, a British underwear factory championed by retail expert Mary Portas and behind her Kinky Knickers line, has gone into administration with the loss of 33 jobs. The Lancashire-based factory featured on Portas’ Channel 4 TV show, Mary’s Bottom Line in 2012,

 where the retail expert reopened the sewing room and launched her Kinky Knickers range in response to her search for 100 percent British knickers.

The 79-year-old

factory has appointed BDO LLP business restructuring partners, Kerry Bailey and Patrick Lannagan, as joint administrators of the company on Wednesday, January 15.

The administrators are currently investigating options to fulfil customer orders, with the intent of selling the business as a going concern.

As well as having an exclusive manufacturing agreement to produce underwear for Mary Portas’s Kinky Knickers range, the factory also produced underwear for a number of high street and online retailers including Marks & Spencer, Asos, John Lewis and House of Fraser.

Headen and Quarmby goes into administration

Kerry Bailey, BDO business restructuring partner, said: “A drop in post-Christmas orders from key customers and a decline in sales volumes has significantly affected the business and resulted in a deterioration of its working capital position.

“However, we are doing everything we can to try to secure a future for the business, and we are hopeful of securing a sale. To that end, the administration team would welcome approaches from commercial parties interested in acquiring the business or assets.”

Portas took to her Facebook page to comment on the news: "I'm really surprised to hear that Headen and Quarmby, the business that we licensed to manufacture the brand Kinky Knickers, has gone into administration. I believe strongly in the team and their products, the stuff they make for us is made with passion and love for the product. I am enormously proud of everything they have achieved, their energy and vision.

“Right up until this announcement, H&Q 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.”

Image: Mary Portas