Fashion designer with $11.8 million in turnover collapses

A design company connected to Australian fashion label Saxony has collapsed.

Ultimate Creative Agencies fell into administration on September 4, with Daniel Civil and Roderick Sutherland of Jirsch Sutherland appointed as administrators.

A meeting of creditors is scheduled for September 16 in Sydney.

According to a listing on business directory Manta, Sydney-based Ultimate Creative Agencies was established in 1972 and employs between 20 and 49 staff. The listing says the company’s estimated annual turnover is approximately $11.8 million.

Ultimate Creative Agencies has the same address as fashion brand Saxony and a search of Australia’s trademark register indicates Ultimate Creative Agencies holds the trademark for Saxony in categories including clothing and apparel, retail shop services and sunglasses cases.

According to IP Australia, Ultimate Creative Agencies has 21 trademarks associated with it, including the name ‘Thomas Spencer’ in the men’s clothing category, the name ‘Baloucci’ in the category of goods including jackets, trousers and suits, and the name ‘Legion’ in apparel and retail clothing categories.

Saxony was established in 2007 and at one point had a number of standalone stores in Sydney and Melbourne as well as an online store. The label specialised in contemporary clothing designs for men and women.

The brand posted a statement to its customers via Facebook on September 1, saying “goodbye to Australia … for now”.

“Our focus for the future will be to secure a presence on the international stage and introduce our outlook and values to alternative overseas markets. However, our thoughts will never stray too far from the community of fans, followers and collaborators who have supported us from the very beginning, and it is our aim to bring Saxony back to Australia as soon as it becomes possible.”

Saxony had been advertising a warehouse sale throughout August, with discounts of up to 90% off Saxony products as well as brands Modern Amusement and Wezc.

SmartCompany contacted Jirsch Sutherland but did not receive a response prior to publication and phone calls to Saxony’s head office were not answered.