The Serious Fraud Office has laid 90 charges over the collapse of Canterbury clothing company Lane Walker Rudkin. 

The collapse of Christchurch clothing company magnate Ken Anderson's business empire has had repercussions in Australia with the closure of his sock manufacturing plant in Melbourne.

About 60 former employees of Scallywag Socks face an uncertain future after Mr Anderson told staff via letter last week the operation was winding up.

Union officials estimate the staff are owed more than $A500,000 ($NZ623,822) in unpaid superannuation contributions, long service leave, wages and redundancy payments.

Iconic clothing manufacturer Lane Walker Rudkin will lay off its remaining staff and shut down before Christmas, the union representing the company’s workers said today.

The company has about 80 workers remaining after laying off more than 140 since it went into receivership in April.

LWR is now being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office after receivers BDO Spicers raised a red flag.

According to BDO Spicers, the LWR group “had misrepresented its financial strength to Westpac in order to borrow more money from the bank.”

Workers who lost their jobs when clothing company Lane Walker Rudkin went in to receivership in April have been given another chunk of their redundancy entitlements.

The receivers, Stephen Tubbs and Brian Mayo-Smith of BDO Spicers, today announced a second payment to redundant staff, bringing the total amount paid to about 55% of the money owed.

The first payment was made in late April just after the receivership was announced.

One of New Zealand’s oldest brands is in the hands of receivers.

Clothing manufacturer Lane Walker Rudkin Industries is headquartered in Christchurch and employs hundreds of staff in New Zealand and Australia.

It went into receivership this afternoon at the behest of its bankers Westpac, understood to be owed more than $50 million.

BDO Spicers has been appointed as receiver.

Lane Walker Rudkin was established in 1904, and supplied the All Blacks uniform for most of the 20th century through the Canterbury brand it founded.