C&A: the UK’s latest fashion victim

Last week's announcement that European fashion retailer C&A is to pack its bags, shut up its 109 UK and Irish shops after more than 75 years, and disappear completely from these high streets by the beginning of next year comes as yet another devastating blow to the British clothing industry. In fact its timing couldn't have been worse, coming as it did less than ten days after the government unveiled details of a £15 million rescue package aimed at stemming the clothing industry's massive job losses, and revitalizing a sector that has been decimated by poor sales and falling prices over the past couple of years.