The last ten years haven’t been kind to fashion retail, especially the kind built on mall foot traffic and fast-changing trends. Brands that once shaped teen closets, fueled work wardrobes, or promised affordable luxury have steadily disappeared. Some went bankrupt, others pivoted online, while many just couldn’t keep up with a retail world that moved faster than they could adapt.
Call it the Retail Apocalypse or the fallout from fast fashion, e-commerce, and a pandemic that left dressing rooms eerily quiet. Whatever the cause, the boarded-up windows and liquidation signs seem to tell the same story. To that effect, here are 10 fashion retailers that closed their doors, leaving behind faded logos, sale signs, and more than a little nostalgia.
Forever 21
For years, it was the spot for trendy clothes on a budget: massive stores, loud playlists, and racks stuffed with the latest styles. But overexpansion, dipping quality, and fierce online competition finally caught up, so the brand filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and again in March this year (its second filing in six years) and shuttered hundreds of locations as a consequence.
The clothing company intends to close all its locations by early May 2025, with all US stores “going out of business” and liquidation sales underway. Moreover, the retailer has disclosed that all purchases are now final, with no returns or exchanges accepted.
Barneys New York
Barneys was high fashion with attitude and a place where stylists and celebrities rubbed shoulders on the sales floor. But rent soared (its Madison Avenue flagship rent rose from $16 million to nearly $30 million at one point), foot traffic shrank, and in 2019 the brand filed for bankruptcy.
While the iconic flagship closed permanently in 2020, the Barneys name lives on through Authentic Brands Group, which revived the label as exclusive “shop-in-shop” experiences within Saks Fifth Avenue locations alongside expanded product lines and international partnerships.
American Apparel
Known for provocative ads and “sweatshop-free” basics, American Apparel was once a cultural force that emphasized ethical manufacturing with its “Made in the USA” label. Then came leadership controversies, mounting debt, and bankruptcies (the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice). By 2017, over 100 American Apparel stores worldwide had to close down.
After failing to stabilize operations, the brand was acquired by Canadian manufacturer Gildan Activewear in January 2017 for $88 million. However, Gildan did not acquire any physical stores, as the apparel manufacturer wanted to focus on e-commerce and wholesale distribution of the brand’s basics. American Apparel now lives online, but today, it is quieter, tamer, and missing its rebellious streak.
The Limited
A go-to for polished office wear in the ’90s and early 2000s, The Limited felt like a mall essential. But as a result of declining mall traffic, competition from fast fashion and e-commerce, and financial struggles under private equity ownership, the company had to close all 250 of its physical stores in 2017.
After its bankruptcy, Sycamore Partners acquired the brand in February 2017. It then relaunched as an exclusive private label sold through Belk department stores (also owned by Sycamore) and online via Belk’s website. While the brand no longer operates standalone stores, it continues to offer workwear and expanded sizing options under Belk’s portfolio.
Wet Seal
If you ever wandered a mall in the early 2000s, Wet Seal was hard to miss. It leaned into West Coast teen fashion—cropped tanks, low-rise jeans, printed everything that aligned with 2000s trends like whale tails, velour tracksuits, and “It” items.
But the company struggled to evolve after failing to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and competition from fast-fashion rivals and subsequently filed for bankruptcy in 2015. After being acquired by Versa Capital for $7.5 million in 2015, the retailer failed to secure funding or a buyer, leading to a second bankruptcy filing in 2017. All 171 remaining stores closed by January 2017.
Delia’s
More than a store, Delia’s was a vibe! The catalog felt like a rite of passage for late-’90s girls. But the digital age wasn’t kind to the apparel and accessories retail brand. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2014 and liquidating all 95 physical stores, Delia’s shut its locations in 2014, marking the end of its brick-and-mortar presence.
Subsequent to the bankruptcy, Steve Russo acquired the brand for $2.5 million in 2015 and attempted an online-only relaunch. However, this revival struggled to resonate with its target audience due to a misguided nostalgia-focused strategy aimed at older millennials rather than Gen Z.
Dressbarn
Known for reliable, affordable workwear, Dressbarn quietly disappeared from malls in December 2019 when it ended up closing all 650 physical stores. Parent company Ascena Retail Group announced the wind-down in May 2019, citing a strategic shift to focus on its remaining brands.
The brand still operates online, but to many longtime shoppers, it’s not quite the same. Customers noted differences in the online experience, including limited product selection and a lack of continuity with the original brand’s identity. Analysts attributed Dressbarn’s decline to outdated retail strategies, failure to differentiate from competitors, and slow adoption of e-commerce.
Henri Bendel
Luxury with flair—and a striped shopping bag you could spot a mile away. The brand introduced Coco Chanel’s designs to the U.S., employed Andy Warhol as an illustrator, and was immortalized in Cole Porter’s song You’re the Top. In 2018, Henri Bendel generated $85 million in revenue but reported a $45 million operating loss (pre-closure costs).
However, after more than 120 years in business, L Brands closed all 23 Henri Bendel stores in 2019, including its flagship on 5th Avenue. L Brands (now Bath & Body Works, Inc.) decided to focus on larger brands like Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, a painful farewell for many who considered it a must-stop on the Big Apple’s most famous street.
New York & Company
Chic workwear, bold prints, and constant sales were why New York & Co. had a loyal following. Nevertheless, in 2020, its parent company, RTW Retailwinds, filed for bankruptcy, shuttering nearly 378 locations. While the pandemic accelerated the bankruptcy, the company had struggled for years due to declining mall traffic and falling sales.
The e-commerce business and intellectual property were subsequently sold to Saadia Group LLC in August 2020, allowing the brand to continue online under new ownership, but the original RTW Retailwinds ceased operations.
Bebe
Flashy, body-hugging, unmistakable. Bebe’s window displays epitomized early-2000s glamour. Unfortunately, the look didn’t age well, and by 2017, the company announced that it would close all of its 180-odd physical stores, citing declining sales and mall traffic as primary reasons.
Bebe then relaunched its e-commerce platform in 2017 under new ownership (Global Brands Group and Bluestar Alliance). The brand’s post-2017 strategy emphasized direct-to-consumer sales and international expansion via licensing. However, the brand’s style and marketing have become far more subdued compared to its heyday.