McGregor returns in 2019

Next year, Dutch fashion brand McGregor will be making a fresh start after its bankruptcy. Its second life will begin with a web shop, but physical stores and wholesale are to follow soon.

Launching in January

“McGregor will be returning to the market in 2019 after a wholesale rebranding and with a completely new collection look,” a press release states. “The new web shop will be launched in March 2019. McGregor’s own stores, franchisees and a network of collaborating retail partners will follow towards the end of the year. The autumn collection for 2019 will be on display in Amsterdam from 18 January already.”

Brand rights were acquired by Fred Gehring en Ludo Onnink, two former top managers at Tommy Hilfiger and owners of sustainable jeans brand Denham The Jeanmaker, writes Textilia. They are supported financially by DM Equity Partners, the investment fund of kitchen entrepreneur Ben Mandemakers and former banker Rob ten Heggeler. The acquirers have high hopes for the brand, which was founded in 1921 and could be considered the original ‘American Sportswear’: its name still looms large in the world of fashion.

In March 2019 the webshop will be launched with a range of basic products, but the company is working on a model that brings offline and online together with its own retail environment and retail partners. Belgian GAB is also joining the effort to reintroduce McGregor: “Several retailers on the Belgian market have expressed interest in welcoming back McGregor soon”, manager Alain Broekaert says.

McGregor saw its demise in 2016, along with Gaastra. A subsequent restart ended up in the hands of Doniger Fashion Group and went bankrupt again in the summer of 2017.