Iconic local fashion house Keith Matheson has had to finally call it quits after a fire at its head office destroyed its stock for the season.

The brand, which started out as Jeanmakers in the 1970s, has been forced to close its doors entirely, after previously announcing that it would only close its Christchurch and Wellington stores.

The company made its name through its namesake’s designs, which it sells exclusively.

General manager and designer Leigh Matheson told NBR that despite this initial intention to stick with the two Auckland stores, the company simply didn’t have enough stock to sell and that sourcing inventory from other sources wasn’t part of the company’s image.

“We lost so much fabric it’s taken us back to the dark ages,” she says.

She denied the closures were due to financial and sales difficulties in tough times.

The remaining two stores and head office in Auckland are to be shut when the leases have been assigned.

The Christchurch and Wellington stores shut on January 10 and 24.
 
The Auckland stores employ around 10-12 people, she says, and a few more in the Parnell office, that will have to be let go shortly.

Mrs Matheson told NBR that the October 17 fire had gutted its head office in Garfield Street Parnell, wiping out its winter collection, three decades of designs and its fabric.

The company was fully insured, she says, and the cause of the fire was arcing electricity from an overhead light and occurred while staff were present.

Ms Matheson wouldn’t discuss the company’s financial arrangements, and said that any plans for the future were very much up in the air.

She wouldn’t say whether the Keith Matheson brand was up for sale, or whether a liquidator would need to be assigned.

Mr Matheson is the sole director of the company, and is the majority shareholder.