Le Château is making its brick-and-mortar store comeback after leaving Burnaby at the end of 2020 when its Metropolis at Metrotown store closed down.
The clothing brand says its latest collection is now online and will be available in some Suzy Shier locations across the country later this month.
Suzy Shier has two locations in Burnaby, at Lougheed Town Centre and a large new store in the Amazing Brentwood.
The retailer says the new concept stores will feature clothing from both brands, with Suzy offering casual, weekend and work attire, while Le Château focuses on dresses, footwear and accessories.
A return to stores isn’t unheard after bankruptcy. As we saw earlier in the pandemic, fashion retailer Forever 21 left Metropolis at Metrotown back in 2019 but then opened a new store in the same mall after going through the insolvency process.
Le Château filed for creditor protection in 2020, joining the ranks of dozens of big-name retailers that buckled under the weight of pandemic restrictions.
Suzy's Inc. — the company behind women's clothing brand Suzy Shier — stepped in to buy Le Chateau’s intellectual property.
The retailer's main customer base were women 25 to 44 years of age. About 30 per cent of its clothing has been manufactured in its Montreal facility.
Le Chateau's intellectual property includes 80 internationally registered trademarks, 60 years of goodwill, a database of nearly 500,000 active customers, 18 domain names and social media accounts.
Franco Rocchi, a former executive with Le Château and now senior marketing director of Suzy/Le Château, says the brand was born in brick-and-mortar stores.
"We couldn't be happier to rejoin the community of retailers in shopping centers across the country," he said in a statement. "We are also proud to join our sister brand Suzy in stores now providing a full-service destination for our customers."
“Le Chateau's Spring/Summer 2022 Collection is the first full launch since the brand's return to the fashion scene,” reads a statement. “It upholds the brand's reputation as a master dress designer, with styles, prints, and silhouettes for every occasion. This season, inspirations range from the quiet beauty and romance of the garden, channeling feminine florals and pastel-hued chiffons, to the cutting edge vibes of cut-outs, sequins, and sparkles that will stand out in any special occasions: proms, weddings, or that special night on the town. Shimmering metallics and new stunning silhouettes in dresses and jumpsuits position the brand as the go-to destination for all special occasion needs.”
