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.

The mugs are nice, I have some woodland animal ones, also matching glasses, all bought in the sale though.

I think they made a chunk of their income from overseas tourists trying to buy into the idea of "Britishness".. red phone boxes, tea pots etc.

I’ve got one of her bags I use when travelling as a weekend or carry on flight bag. It takes an amazing amount of stuff and is very practical that way.

If it wasn’t for you why should care either way? Why even comment? Unless it’s a thinly veiled dig at people who do like Cath Kidston? In which case, unnecessarily nasty. By the way, I’m not a Cath Kidston fan and I didn’t know it was closing. Just can’t be doing with the little poisonous arrows being chucked about for no reason

Well said Sadie789
Unfortunately, in my experience, many mumsnetters seem to take vicarious pleasure in gloating over a shop’s demise. There are a lot of extremely introvert posters who hate shopping and interacting with the outside world and just want everything to be available online only.

While Cath Kidston wasn’t my cup of tea either I don’t take pleasure in any shop closure. It will make what is left of the high street even more drab with less choice than ever. And what jobs will the staff get - pickers at an Amazon warehouse?

I do actually own one thing from there – a small purse that I take on holiday. It is excellent quality and I can see it lasting for years. Oh, and my spotty biscuit barrel Is, I think, a Cath Kidston design.

I think they were very niche for the yummy mummies who don't really exist anymore and they don't seem to have altered their offering in two decades. My friends are either working class (where I live) or professional (where I work). I have very rarely seen anything from Cath Kidson IRL, the bags etc almost look like toys to me

I also hate the sneering at anyone who likes something different to the uniform grey drabness that is so popular now.

The question which needs to be addressed is what is the high street for if most shopping is done online?

I would hate to only be able to buy clothes, shoes and skincare online. I am unusual on MN to actually like browsing in the shops. I need to try things on before I buy. I need to try samples of make up and skincare before I buy. I want to feel the weight of a new pan before I buy. If everything goes online we will need more post offices for all the returns that customers will need to send back.

It would be good if the outcome of this crisis were that we stop producing and selling so much tat and new jobs are created in a more sustainable economy.

I’ve never bought from CK just because not keen on the design. From what I could see and the description here CK was selling hard wearing stuff that has lasted. The materials may not have been as sustainable but it is not throw away

I used to swear by the bags, really long lasting, durable, suited my needs but in later years found things I didnt like about them - strap placement for example, which meant they didn't hang right or gaped open unless zipped up. Struggled to find anything I really liked and noticed a lot more sales. Will still use them online for the occasional gift.

CK was the only shop where I ever found handbags of the size I like, with enough pockets.

Gin it’s not just you. I’m between size and hate buying online as I either have to buy two sizes or risk guessing wrong.

Sad another shop is closing. It wasn't ,y cup off tea but I can see why other people liked it. I'm surprised as I thought it had quite a big market. The shop in my nearest city was massive.

I agree OP

DM used to work at IPC magazines and Cath was just starting out then and buying small amounts of advertisement space . DM met her a few times, right at the beginning so is upset and feels sorry for Cath and staff.
DM likes the bags and has a few .

Was never a big fan but the few things I've got are good quality. My iPad cover must be 5-6yrs old and still looks good, lasted longer than the official Apple ones. Was also a good place for gifts. Such a shame yet another high st shop has shut.

Quite nice for gifts for older relatives and also got a couple of nice dresses for my daughter in there. Otherwise I suspect I just wasn’t it’s target market... not all shops are for everyone.
Sad for the staff.

I wouldn't feel too sorry for Cath herself. She hasn't been heading up the company for some time and only had a very minor stake. She wasn't doing the designing any more.

I do agree that their main problem is probably over-expansion into high street, expensive locations.

Tacky shite.

Many years ago I quite liked CK and the shabby chic thing.

I still have one bag which is years old and has had so much use but still looks good as new. It’s so practical, durable and pretty, and I can fit a load of stuff into it. I use it as my weekend/overnight bag.

They were definitely of their time, though, so they couldn’t have made it for much longer here. I expect they’ll be bought out for the Japanese/Korean market & anywhere else where they love cutesy things. So who knows, we may yet have CK online in the UK.

Such a shame for the staff.

I’m a funny shape and I find it very hard to gauge size and fit without trying things on. Online clothes shopping just doesn’t work for me at all. I don’t know where I’ll be buying from in the future (not that I bought tonnes of clothes from CK, but in general).

CK bags and wash bags were very good quality, they last and last.

How is it “tat”?

Have some of their dresses too, 10 yrs later still look nice

IMO it was mostly nice quality stuff and I liked the flower patterns

So I’ll miss them

I like their flannel pyjama bottoms - I love snuggly pyjamas and it’s nice to have patterns that aren’t variations on tartan. And their oilcloth makeup/washbag/pencil cases last well, I have several in different patterns for different things and some are a decade old. But it does seem to be a victim of its own success, rather than staying ‘niche’ it suddenly had shops everywhere. Agree the bag prices got silly - I needed a weekend bag a few years back, and looked at CK ones and couldn’t justify the spend. Got a knockoff one instead, similar style but a bolder/more colourful pattern and didn’t regret it.

Cowboy and squirrel patterns were my favourite. And the Christmas dog one. Ah well.

Oh yes, I also have an iPad cover which is about 8 years old now and going strong. Just the right thickness of quilted padding, and a lovely white mini polka dot pattern on a navy blue background. It’ll probably last years to come.

I love Cath Kidston personally...

YY ‘Tat’ to me is useless things - ornaments, decorations etc - bags and clothing by definition aren’t ‘tat’

I like KK. Still use my tea plates, mugs etc. Used to be sold in John Lewis. I also like LA. Have a teapot which was a gift and I love

I won't be rushing for the grey stuff

Posters used "tat" when they mean "not my taste".

Tat really means cheaply made disposable "fast fashion". Which isn't really what these brands are about at all. All posters who actually have some of the products are saying how durable they are.

Wouldn't it be depressing if our only shopping choices were designer brands, Primark and nothing in between?

It’s obviously not ‘tat’ under any definition.

Those saying that are just throwing out a lazy insult.

Wouldn't it be depressing if our only shopping choices were designer brands, Primark and nothing in between?

Looks like it’s going that way