Orla Kiely ends: Fashion brand Orla Kiely collapses into administration

Stores in UK and Ireland have already been shut

The brand's stores in London and Kildare have closed (Reuters)

The fashion brand Orla Kiely, known for its signature graphic print, has collapsed into administration.

Kiely Rowan Plc, the business side of the brand, said the company ceased trading on 17 September, with all stores closing. The group had shops in London – in Covent Garden and on the King’s Road – and in Kildare in Ireland.

The company apologised for any inconvenience caused and in a statement on the now defunct website said: “Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support.”

The statement was signed "Orla, Dermott and the team". Ms Kiely ran the company alongside her husband, Dermott Rowan.

According to the firm, the Orla Kiely Home and Design licensing business will not be affected by the administration, and its range of accessories and homewares will continue to be sold through various distribution partners.

In the last set of accounts filed by Kiely Rowan, the company reported income of £77,260 for the year to 31 March 2017, down from £109,139 the year before.

Lee Ranford, partner and head of the insolvency team at Russell-Cooke, said there was a chance that the company could be saved from total collapse, which would have an impact on its employees.

“There may well be parties interested in buying some or all of the Orla Kiely business from the administrator and free of the debt burden of existing creditors,” he said.

“The fate of employees may well depend on whether a buyer can be found. Contracts of employees are not automatically terminated when a company enters administration."

Once appointed, an administrator has 14 days within which to decide whether to retain employees, however, Mr Ranford said: "In practice, unless the administrator continues to trade the company, employees are often made redundant as soon as the company enters administration.”