Clothing chain folds: 'it's meaningless to carry on'

The 33-year-old Hong Kong children's clothing retail chain Chickeeduck will be closing its last branch in Causeway Bay next month due to a disruption in the company's supply chain in the mainland and other Southeast Asian countries, founder and CEO Herbert Chow Siu-lung said.

Chow said that the brand's online store and the Causeway Bay branch will cease operation on June 30 and the products would be greatly discounted.

"I am very reluctant to close down the stores, but the supply chain in mainland China has been cut off, and that in other Southeast Asian countries have been constantly disrupted," he said.

"We feel that it is meaningless to carry on and I don't want my colleagues to continue to struggle."

He added that he would still make the same choice if he had to choose again, even if he knew that the shop would have to close today.

On Chickeeduck's Facebook page, the company said it always strove to deliver the best products and service and expressed gratitude to its customers from the past 33 years.

"The brand that has been in business for 33 years will end," said the company. "It was an extremely difficult decision for us We love our brand and we also feel the same love for our brand from everyone."

Some customers were reluctant to accept the closure, while some showed their respect to Chow for the good-quality clothing and his perseverance.

"Both my daughter and I grew up wearing your brand, thank you," a web user said.

"My hat off to you! So honored to have you as our HKer family!" commented another online user.

The brand was founded in 1990 to provide children's clothing and expanded to include adult-wear alongside launching other lifestyle stores in 2020. The brand owned around 20 stores across the SAR at the peak of its business.

Last year, it announced the closure of all its lifestyle branches in the SAR within half a year after their leases expired, with its Tin Hau branch being the first to bid farewell last November.

Chow, who holds a pro-democratic stance, has hung anti-government banners and placed statues symbolizing defiant protesters in his stores after the implementation of the national security law.

He displayed a protest statue in the Chickeeduck store at D-Park shopping center in Tsuen Wan last year.

Chow revealed that he encountered challenges in renting shop spaces, with numerous landlords refusing to renew his leases.

Sources said the 59-year-old has left Hong Kong and moved to the United Kingdom.

cynthia.chan@singtaonewscorp.com