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Frugi has gone into administration

41 replies

CakeIsNotAvailable · 01/12/2022 08:52

www.drapersonline.com/news/celtic-co-owner-buys-frugi-via-pre-pack-deal

Not sure how I feel about this - the quality has dropped massively in recent years, and prices have gone up! But my children were dressed in a lot of Frugi as toddlers, so I do feel a little bit wistful!

OP posts:
Gruffling · 01/12/2022 09:43

The article says they have been bought in a pre pack administration, not sure what that means in practical terms, with regards to continuing trading and honouring existing orders?

It says they were experiencing cashflow problems. I did wonder, as they have had so many offers lately.

Sad to see this, have some great quality clothes from there for DD and by the sound of it, they were a relatively ethical company. What I loved is that they did bright, gender neutral, comfortable clothes - so hard to find these days.

Blueeyedgirl21 · 01/12/2022 09:58

I find it so expensive compared to other brands and there are a lot of newer businesses popping up that sell similar stuff or nicer for example I get my baby these hand made romper things that you put a long sleeve vest under and they’re in literally any print you want, animals, sea creatures etc and I pay like £9.99 a pair and they also resale well. And are made in someone’s front room locally and she sells them on Facebook so no expensive fees passed on. Also blade and rose you can get leggings a top and socks for a tenner when they have sales.

also I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t go for the bright, print type stuff they like more muted but still colourful so blush pink, teal, grey, mauve instead of magenta, royal blue, yellow etc.

Eileen101 · 01/12/2022 10:03

They've been brought by Celtic and co, apparently another ethical brand.

I hope it works out for them - I love their ethos and the bright colours and designs for my kids. However since it was sold by the original owners in 2018, the quality has declined a.d the prices have risen.

Hopefully the new owners will bring things back on track.

Vinvertebrate · 01/12/2022 22:33

I loved Frugi when DS was little. Such a shame.

Whattaboutit · 01/12/2022 22:39

also I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t go for the bright, print type stuff they like more muted but still colourful so blush pink, teal, grey, mauve instead of magenta, royal blue, yellow etc

I think this definitely part of it. There are trends in children's clothing and they haven’t kept up with what their middle class market want their children to look like.

autumnboys · 01/12/2022 22:43

I loved Frugi so much. I bought from them when they were cut 4 cloth in the early 2000s. My kids are all teens now but I hope that something ican be salvaged.

SeenAndNot · 01/12/2022 22:44

Unsurprising, they were very expensive.

FirstFallopians · 01/12/2022 22:51

My kids are still fairly young and I used to LOVE Frugi- good quality, interesting prints, could juuuuust about justify the cost when they had a discount code on. I loved dressing them like they’d been in an explosion in a crayon factory.

Over the last two years the offerings have just dropped like a stone. Prints that were similar to what you could find in the supermarket, dreadful wash fade. They increased their prices drastically- £20 for a toddler’s t-shirt?!?!?

I’ve started buying from Boden now and haven’t been tempted by anything from Frugi in donkeys.

hilariousnamehere · 01/12/2022 22:51

there are a lot of newer businesses popping up that sell similar stuff or nicer for example I get my baby these hand made romper things that you put a long sleeve vest under and they’re in literally any print you want, animals, sea creatures etc and I pay like £9.99 a pair and they also resale well. And are made in someone’s front room locally and she sells them on Facebook so no expensive fees passed on. Also blade and rose you can get leggings a top and socks for a tenner when they have sales.

This is why small businesses are going under - the fabric and the labour for sewing those bloody rompers is more than £9.99 but some random in her living room who doesn't actually need the money and has absolutely no concept about pricing properly will undercut and undercut, sell all over Facebook, make the decent small businesses look expensive when they're actually just paying their suppliers a fair wage and make very little on each item, and then everyone moans when they go out of business and all you can buy is identikit boring clothes made in China or wherever.

And no, I have no skin in this specific game, can't thread a sewing machine to save my life, but I'm a photographer, mostly for small businesses and also sell my own art prints and I am so fucking tired of seeing my lovely clients in all kinds of industries massively undercut by total amateurs with no insurance, who are often using patterns or stamps or designs that infringe copyright, and selling everything for a ridiculous price which makes everyone expect quality handmade work for practically nothing.

Argh!!

ReallyDarling · 01/12/2022 22:52

Oh sad! I love their gender neutral, happy coloured clothes. I was actually going to buy quite a bit from them this season as sainsburys' TU options are dire right now. They used to be a bit of a cut price Frugi. Hope Celtic Co make it work!

weebarra · 01/12/2022 22:56

I'm sad but they were very expensive. All my kids wore their stuff and I actually just bought some bits for my pregnant sister in law.

purpleme12 · 01/12/2022 23:02

My child is 9
And I've only just bought some clothes for her from there.
I do personally pick the really bright bold colours and prints. That's what I've got from there.
So yes I do really love it for that. And that's why I go there really.
The things I've bought have been reduced, not full price and I can't wait for her to wear them.
I've got one skater dress which is second hand, frugi which looks beautiful on her. I love it

ImNotOnTwitterButMySupportGoldfinchTweets · 01/12/2022 23:09

Thé quality used to be brilliant. I’ve passed on clothes that have been worn by all three of mine and they’re still in good shape. As they got older mine started wearing out the trousers, so I bought those elsewhere, but until a few years ago, I swore by their tops and jumpers. Lovely thick cotton. Really fun prints.

Toddlerteaplease · 01/12/2022 23:11

I've got some lovely tops from them. But massively overpriced for what they are.

WellTidy · 01/12/2022 23:16

Oh my lord. I buy loads from there as both DSs are quite sensory, and their fabrics are soft yet have substance and warmth to them. I am a little surprised my purchases in their own haven’t been enough to kept them afloat. If it’s prepack, they will likely continue to trade.

transformandriseup · 01/12/2022 23:21

There clothes always looked so nice but I had a job interview with them years ago and it put me right off.

Rainallnight · 01/12/2022 23:21

I love love their winter coats for the DC. Really hope they make it.

purpleme12 · 01/12/2022 23:24

Just bought something else from there.

yoyy · 01/12/2022 23:25

there are a lot of newer businesses popping up that sell similar stuff or nicer for example I get my baby these hand made romper things that you put a long sleeve vest under and they’re in literally any print you want, animals, sea creatures etc and I pay like £9.99 a pair and they also resale well.

they can't be making any money though

yoyy · 01/12/2022 23:25

I'm sad but they were very expensive.

Is this because they were ethical?

CakeIsNotAvailable · 01/12/2022 23:55

transformandriseup · 01/12/2022 23:21

There clothes always looked so nice but I had a job interview with them years ago and it put me right off.

Spill the gossip, please!

OP posts:
PronounsBaby · 02/12/2022 08:04

The website has a holding message of 'we'll be back soon ' ... shame was hoping to grab a bargain!

purpleme12 · 02/12/2022 08:15

Babipur have lots of frugi in on their website. You can order a lot of the same things from there.
I've just ordered frugi from there

purpleme12 · 02/12/2022 08:15

(40 per cent off on the item I ordered too)

weebarra · 02/12/2022 08:18

Yoyy- yes of course it is. I buy a lot from the Scandi companies too for the same reasons.
The Scandi clothing is now better quality and retains its value for resale. I've only bought a couple of Frugi things second hand as they tend to fade.

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