To feel so sorry for all the staff losing their jobs, but Cath Kidston was a load of over priced wank.

[blubberball]

Just read that Cath Kidston won't be opening up again after the lock down. My sympathies are with the people who will now be out of a job, but I really didn't get it.

My SIL used to work in the head office (when Cath was still there) and I remember her saying that Cath had a right hold over all the designs and was very careful about growing the brand, she had a vision. Combine that with the timing of when it was really popular, there was a a fashion for pastel colours and retro prints; it was incredibly popular and really nice stuff. Then it became really popular in parts of Asia, such as China and people from there would come to the UK in order to specifically look round and but the stuff, also I remember when a lot of secondary school girls had the bags too.
However, I think after the brand was sold, a combination of tastes changing with a company that had expanded quickly meant they couldn’t keep up; the demand wasn’t there. Plus as we’ve seen on this thread, people can be dismissive of that ‘look’ now.
I personally like some of there things. I have an oilskin travel bag that I’ve had for years and one of my daughters adores the floral dresses which I find on eBay. My favourite mug will always be a CK!

*tight hold

I do actually own a flower print CK washbag. It’s very cute. 🙂

SoupDragon - then I unreservedly apologise to anyone who has felt that my critique of CK brand as inherently regressive means that they are too if they have shopped there.

Still interested to understand what is ‘regressive’ about flower prints?

Yorkshirelass04 has apologized. I disagreed with what she said but she has apologized so no point picking over the bones really.

I’m interested to understand her motivation for what she originally said though.

I didn’t personally find her post ‘rude’ but I still don’t entirely follow its logic.

I love their wash bags and matching make up bags. They are always less than half price on the outlets - cheap

@Pseudosudocrem

I like my twee crochet stuff too and doing the craft

Judging by the forums on fb it's a very popular pastime🙂

I liked it when it was owned by cath. When the Chinese bought it and started the Disney collaborations it went rapidly downhill. Used to be really exciting but then they were everywhere.

It’s very sad. She posted on Instagram the other day about it under her new company, joyofprint

Oh yeah I forgot, the Chinese have already bought it!

It had its day. I love my CK Cowboy Crush mug (£5 from Debenhams) and hope it never breaks.

@HopelessLayout mine is chipped, it’s so sad, can’t bear to throw him away.

@DobbyTheHouseElk they come up occasionally on eBay as I've had to replace two for my sister. Look for one that says "Queens" on the bottom rather than just "Churchill" as the Queens-branded ones appear to be made of a stronger ceramic.

Yes, I feel sorry for staff, but I won’t be mourning.

When CK was relatively new, I bought an overnight-sized bag for a dd, certainly not cheap. The zip broke after just a few weeks.

Well that was certainly an anomaly...did you bother to return it and get a replacement? Because quality issues here and there are inevitable even from the very best brands, I should think. If you’d got a replacement it likely would have lasted and lasted.

Ah, Iive near an outlet and always bought their summer dresses on sale as respectable but good in hot weather teacher clothing :(

@PineappleDanish I love that print, have it in a big oilcloth bag I use for swimming and made bathroom curtains from it. Had the matching towels too.

@HopelessLayout thanks for the tip, I’ll check mine to see which it is. It chipped when I was getting an adjacent mug out of the cupboard. I’m fairly clumsy!

I think it’s a shame.

It was one of those shops for me, if I wanted/needed a new bag or wallet or wash bag I would go to. And when I did I never liked the available patterns! Then when I didn’t need anything and couldn’t afford to, I would love everything in there!

I have a CK tote, handbag, across body bag and a satchel. Have had my CK wallet for 8 years and it’s still fine! It was a nice shop to use for gifts to, especially over the years of friends getting first houses etc, there home accessories were often lovely. I wasn’t much for flowers, I liked the ones a bit more quirky! The children’s ranges were adorable too, and made lovely gifts.

Everyone has different tastes, I said to a friend the other week “I Hope Fat Face and Gap survive this” to which she replied “Wouldn’t be bothered, but I hope we don’t lose Joules or Top Shop or River Island”. I haven’t set foot in any of those for at least 6 years. To each their own. I hope those who have lost there jobs find new ones

Real shame. I liked their stuff. Especially their Disney items and had a few of their peter pan and snow white items :(

Some of the absolute brand snobs on here .

So dated
Not On Trend

Some of us don't give a toss for what is "On trend" you know .

I have never been "on trend"

We like what we like

I was never cool or on trend - I personally would look daft in what’s currently trendy