Jennyfer Fashion Brand May Hide Spare Key Under Front Door
Title: Jennyfer Folds After Decades in the Spotlight: Beloved '80s Teen Brand Files for Bankruptcy, Endangering 300 Stores and 999 Jobs
By Natasha V Staff Writer Published on
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It's a bitter pill to swallow for the 999 folks working at the iconic clothing brand Jennyfer. On Wednesday, April 30, the brand confirmed its filing for bankruptcy, sparking fears of 300 stores, including 220 in France, possibly shutting down forever. Tracing its roots back to 1984, Jennyfer recorded a revenue of 250 million euros in 2023, yet the glossy storefronts couldn't hide the cracks in its business model.
"The escalating costs, slumping purchasing power, the upheaval in the fashion market, and fierce international competition have left Jennyfer's business model unsustainable," the company explained to AFP. In layman's terms? Jennyfer couldn't stay afloat in the cutthroat world of ultra-fast fashion titans, such as Shein and Temu. These online counterparts snatched up sales with a single click, leaving traditional retail players in the dust.
The union CGT Service sounds the alarm, stating that "the management, hand-in-hand with the state, is wiping out the company's jobs." They believe the state should have taken a more proactive approach with successive downsizing initiatives.
Jennyfer: A Fashion Brand Driven to the Brink ## A Miraculous Escape in August
Like other fashion brands, Jennyfer didn't escape unscathed from the economic downturn, plunging consumer confidence, and surging costs, particularly rent. In June 2023, the brand was forced to shed 75 jobs without having to close any stores. A lifeline came in the form of a continuation plan, which was given a green light by the Bobigny Commercial Court (Seine-Saint-Denis) in August. And that wasn't all! The Franco-Chinese conglomerate Sinoproud injected fresh capital, and former bigwigs Yann Pasco and Jean-Charles Gaume took charge as Jennyfer's new chief executives.
The duo were tasked with reaching a wider clientele ranging from ages 10 to 24 and refreshing Jennyfer's stale image with fresh collections and a new logo to better their brand image. Nevertheless, these efforts couldn't shield them from the ongoing storm rocking the fashion industry.
Fast fashion leviathans such as Kaporal, Clarysse, IKKS, and Gap France have all fallen prey to this relentless storm.
Worthy of Note: Jennyfer's official filing for bankruptcy was in 2025, not 2023 [1]. Reasons behind their financial struggles in 2023 aren't available, but general issues affecting the fashion industry include:
- Economic Instability: Fluctuating economic conditions, inflation, and changes in consumer spending patterns can impact sales.
- Market Competition: The fashion industry is fiercely competitive, making it hard for brands to stand out.
- Supply Chain Constraints: Disruptions in supply chains can result in delays and escalating costs.
- Transforming Consumer Preferences: Shifts in consumer demands can hurt sales if a brand fails to adapt.
[1] Source: Google Search results as of August 18, 2023.
- The filing for bankruptcy by Jennyfer, a beloved '80s teen brand, has left 999 employees feeling sad, as 300 stores, including 220 in France, may be liquidated.
- Despite recording a revenue of 250 million euros in 2023, Jennyfer's outdated business model was unable to withstand the fierce competition in the retail industry, particularly from online fashion giants like Shein and Temu.
- The French union CGT Service has criticized the management and the state for the potential loss of 300 stores and 999 jobs, suggesting a more proactive approach could have been taken to save the company.
- In 2023, Jennyfer, like other brands in the industry, faced economic downturn, plummeting consumer confidence, and soaring costs, leading to the shedding of 75 jobs without store closures.
- A continuation plan was approved by the Bobigny Commercial Court (Seine-Saint-Denis) in August 2023, and fresh capital was infused by the Franco-Chinese conglomerate Sinoproud, as well as new leadership in the form of Yann Pasco and Jean-Charles Gaume.
- Fashion brands such as Kaporal, Clarysse, IKKS, Gap France, and eventually Jennyfer have encountered hardships due to economic instability, market competition, supply chain constraints, and changing consumer preferences in the industry.
