The collapse of Belinda International comes in the wake of a tumultuous financial year for the luxury boutique chain, marked by key executive and designer brand departures.
The Sydney-based group, which operates around eight boutiques across Sydney and Melbourne, collapsed into the hands of administrator Adam Farnsworth of Dean-Willcocks last week.
Founder Belinda Seper first launched the group in 1992 with a multi-brand boutique in Double Bay. It is understood the business is continuing to trade as a going concern. Administrators have yet to comment on the circumstances behind its collapse.
The move follows a tough period for the broader retail market and a raft of internal shakeups at the company over 2009/10.
In late 2009, luxury boutique competitor Robby Ingham successfully poached former Belinda International retail operations manager Marlene Mangioni to his team.
Mangioni jumped ship after 11 years with Belinda International, taking longstanding retail executive and right-hand woman Sue Rainger with her.
As reported in a recent edition of Ragtrader, Mangioni has since left the Ingham business to team with etailer mycatwalk.com.au and launch a new boutique concept.
Prior to leaving the Ingham business, which specialises in high-end international designers, Mangioni was responsible for introducing domestic designer brands to its stable for the first time.
These included a number of leading Australian designers once stocked at Seper's branded boutique chain 'The Corner Shop'.
Pick up a copy of Ragtrader's September 23 edition for exclusive details on the Belinda International administration.
MARNI: The Italian giant's Australian flagship is operated by Belinda Seper.
