Let's talk...joules

[fairisleknit]

...going into administration...

This 🤣🤣🤣

@lindyloo57 in the shop - I mentioned the website price and she said they were doing a special promotion but the brown Canterbury is sold out already on the website - there is a shop where I live. QVC also do Joules often cheaper - the same coat was about £80 on there last month but now full price.

I know a lot of us sneer at such brands, I know I do, have never approved of their marketing (fox hunting etc), and I do think the outsourcing of most previously decent British stores has been a disaster.

However, what really bloody worries me is what are we going to be left with? I have this horror of being stuck with cheap supermarket crap for eternity, with natural fabrics only accessible for the very wealthy. The divide between decent high street and high end is closing fast.

And ffs, I walked into a Primark today and everything was a lurid cerise or purple, from shiny polyester trousers to moulting acrylic cardigans with misshaped sleeves. It seems the market want this, but will scowl at a decent cotton tee or fucking gilet.
I don't get it. Most stores are lousy now, but what we are going to be left with after more closures is chilling in terms of quality.

At this point i honestly feel like sodding it all off and just buying from Patagonia and the occasional weird brand like cabbages and roses. I think fast fashion is a worn out model, but pricing for decent fabrics will be prohibitive for many as more middle ground places shut.

I agree the outlook feels pretty grim. I've just been round the local high street and come back thoroughly depressed, and it's not like I live in the middle of nowhere.

I think Joules, rather like Cath Kidston, is one of those 'quirky' very British type of brands that has its time but would never be long-lived. I guess Laura Ashley was an earlier example of this, although they did manage to struggle on for nigh on 50 years (perhaps because many of their young customers from the 60s aged with the brand?).

Even though I wasn’t a fan of their clothes towards the end I think Joules stores have a nice vibe about them. A much nicer place to shop than Primark or H&M. Agree with others - if FatFace goes to what will be left? I’ll end up just buying over-priced, poor quality Hush things because they’re largely just online only so have saved their overheads? Boden have gone down the toilet. Such a shame. I hope these things are cyclical and after a while decent women’s brands will be back. As a demographic the middle-aged, middle-class woman must be fairly lucrative? Or maybe not… 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve never bought anything from joules as it’s not my style but I do feel sad about this. In the same way that I feel sad every time a clothes shop goes under which happens all the time. I recently went to the Trafford centre and all the following have gone:
topshop, oasis, warehouse, gap, Dorothy Perkins, miss selfridge, Debenhams, monsoon, coast, burton. It really does leave a hole. Then of course also principles, Wallis, jaegar, country casuals, Jacques verts, all gone over the last few years. And im not sure what replaces them all.

My cousin’s daughter is a designer for them ☹️.

As a demographic the middle-aged, middle-class woman must be fairly lucrative? Or maybe not…
I used to believe this too but unfortunately I think the history of the high street is littered with the corpses of retailers who found out the hard way that middle aged, middle class women come in a million shapes, sizes, lifestyles and preferences. They're not all looking for the same kinds of clothes and also - generalisation alert but I think there's enough truth in it - often have higher expectations, e.g. in terms of quality, and are more vocal when those expectations are not met. Even at the best of times, I don't see it as an easy market.

TheGander I'm sorry about your cousin's daughter and I hope she lands on her feet and quickly. Such a tough industry.

Thanks Flo, fingers crossed. At least she’s got her family behind her.

We'll soon have nothing left to wear.

Debenhams, Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, now Joules. It's worrying

I miss some of these old brands - Debenhams, Principles etc.

But there are some great old staples eg White Stuff, Seasalt, M&S, Fat Face.

And some newer ones like Oliver Bonas, Hush, Mint Velvet.

Overall there is less choice, and some of the newer brands are so expensive.

A bit of a diversion from the thread but what is the “replacement” for oasis and warehouse and also topshop? Im a bit older now but these shops were my absolute staples in my 20’s and early 30’s. Fashiony but not overly so, good price point for me at that time in my life. I suppose it’s asos, I can’t think of anything that replaces or is similar to them on the high street. H&M or Zara I guess also but I always saw those shops as different from oasis and warehouse.
its all just a shame, even though there is a huge amount of online shops, it does feel like there is less choice now.

I too loved oasis, wearhouse, topshop, debenhams, I shop mainly in m&s, next do lots of brands, and john lewis, I do like mint velvet, and hush but they are a bit more expensive

I liked Kew, that went too.

I used to love Aubin & Wills, gone about a decade now, I also foresee Jack Wills dissolving if it hasn't already.

I loved Laura Ashley

I don't know what to think relating to class. Most of the market now seems squarely aimed at the mainstream, or 'economy' group (I can't call this working class as many are very well off). It is class-less, although I do believe the most lucrative customer's are those buying lots, and cheaply. This goes for food, clothes and other lifestyle choices.

What I personally define as traditionally middle class is thin on the ground, from failing radio stations to clothes and TV.

Perhaps 'popular' is the correct term - like watching strictly come whatsit and im a celeb (more intellectual or arty shows are thin on the ground nowadays, as opposed to, say, the 70's to late 90's).
As with similarly popular foods, sports, pursuits etc most of the money is being made here, so brands have no real incentive to cater to a lesser segment of society.

So yes, I suppose the market chose this.

I used to like Planet, they had a concession in Dingles House of Fraser in Bournemouth, there was also Linea in there, always something nice to buy.

@brighterthanthemoon - our local Fatfaces have a teeny sale rail at the moment

I'm looking out for a Black Friday % off as DS has seen some things he liked. So it just seems like every other shop has an email out every day, but not FF?

Most of the market now seems squarely aimed at the mainstream, or 'economy' group

I think we are being pushed to be less sophisticated, questioning and discerning as a society. This is reflected in fashion options too

It's all fast fashion - ASOS, Shein, Primark. Or you jump up to Oliver Bonas etc. There's nothing in the middle. I don't want cheap, but I don't want to spend ££s either.

I like their stuff, but just tried to find stuff on their site, jesus its hard work

the filters fall off, they show items not in stock.... arrgghh

I like the Joules stripe looks, sweatshirts etc ... any other brands do similar?
I'm sad they're likely going 🥺

Not sure what to make of all this.

I tried to buy my 13 year old DD a dress yesterday. She is discerning and into different types of fashion. Talks about “cottage core”.

she was disgusted by what was on offer - we tried Next, Matalan, TK Maxx. She declared it all to be “cheap” and “chavvy”. We are not well off nor snobbish. I live in leggings and sports stuff,

we eventually got a cute little dress in H and M but it was slim pickings,

I am not sure what the answer is.

I used to love Boden, Fat Face and Joules. Gap for staples. H and M for jeans. My wardrobe still has this stuff and I still buy Boden.

but I think the younger generation don’t want cheap crap any more than we do

I've just bought a bargain top in Joules - the store was really busy.