UK fashion shop which dressed Teddy Boys and Mods closes – 115 years | UK | News
The company was first founded in 1916 (Image: Jasmine Siddon / Leicester Mercury)
A UK high street store is set to close in just days after 115 years of welcoming customers.
The iconic Irish Clothing Company, based in Loughborough, had previously announced that its Church Gate store would close in June 2025, after concluding there was “no way forward” for the shop. However, it continued operating for a further nine months while awaiting the building to be taken over by new leaseholders.
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It has not been clarified why the store is closing; however, last year, bosses said external factors were at play, reports Leicestershire Live.
The store announced last July that it would continue trading under current sale conditions as it worked through stock from both its Loughborough and Leicester stores, which closed in 2018.
The Brown Family, who founded the company, agreed to let the property of their former Leicester branch to coffee chain Caffè Nero.
The third-generation family business, set up by Joseph Brown in 1910, once had various branches in Leicester, including Humberstone Gate, The Shires, and High Street, before adding its Loughborough store to its network.
The Church Gate branch will be closing on March 31 (Image: Jasmine Siddon / Leicester Mercury)
Joseph Brown passed the business down to his son, John Brown, who carried it forward and handed it over to his son, Tom Brown, the current owner.
The brand had great success in the 1950s as the go-to store for Teddy Boy suits, in the 60s, it served the local Mods, and the brand then became the first retailer in the city to sell pre-washed and stonewashed jeans.
The store was also known for hosting a range of brands, such as Timberland, Dr Martens, Joules, Seasalt and Aigle.
Now, bosses have confirmed the exact date of the closure.
In a statement, they said: “We have now set the shop up for our final few days of trading.
“After some 115 years of being a huge part of Leicester’s history, Irish Clothing Company, in Loughborough, will close its doors for the very last time on Tuesday, March 31 – the end of an era for us.
“We are now clearing vintage trousers, jeans and all POS, posters and brand memorabilia as well as the last remaining items of clothing and accessories we have.”
Various customers shared their disappointment with the news, with one person stating it’s the “end of an era”.
Another wrote: “This is really upsetting. The Leicester that I knew and loved, that I grew up with and my parents grew up with is gone! There’s hardly anything left.”
