Claire's closes all Ireland and UK outlets in major job loss
Claire’s has shut down all of its standalone shops in Ireland and the UK after falling into financial woes.
The accessory brand, which is known for its colourful stores and cheap jewellery, suffered major losses in recent years and fell into administration twice.
Over 1,300 staff have been ‘notified of redundancy’ and 154 stores have been closed, according to its administrators, Kroll.
Claire’s has shut down all of its standalone shops in Ireland and the UK. Pic: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images
However, the brand’s 356 concession stands will remain open.
A spokesperson for Kroll stated: ‘As of April 27, all Claire’s standalone stores in the UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy.
‘We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites.’
Over 1,300 staff have been ‘notified of redundancy’ and 154 stores have been closed. Pic: Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The bright purple Claire’s sign has been a standout feature of shopping centres across Ireland for years, with countless teenagers flocking there for a weekend shop.
However, the emergence of cheaper online brands, such as Shein or Temu, caused the outlets to slow in business.
In January, Claire’s owners Modella Capital remarked that a large part of the reason that the brand was put into administration was the very low Christmas trading that left it in a ‘vulnerable’ position.
The US wing of Claire’s is also struggling. Pic: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Modella Capital had hired Kroll to oversee the administration earlier this year.
To give context to the news, fashion expert Priya Raj told the BBC: ‘We’ve moved away from novelty, colourful jewellery for the most part, which is what Claire’s are best known for.
‘If we think about teens today, they’re looking at social media for influence on what to buy, rather than their local High Street or shopping centre.
‘So naturally their tastes are evolving into what’s mainstream right now – minimal jewellery, sometimes chunky, sometimes with a more curated look – basically not the cutesy, juvenile look that Claire’s is known for.’
The US wing of Claire’s is also struggling, filing for bankruptcy for the second time in 2025, after already having done so in 2018.
The retailer was founded in the US and first moved over to the UK in 1996.
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