Manchester-founded fashion retailer Joanie Clothing has announced it is closing after nine years in business, bringing an end to the vintage-inspired brand known for its inclusive sizing, celebrity collaborations and global online following.
The shock announcement was confirmed in a statement shared on the company’s social media channels, where the business said it had entered “the final chapter”. The brand cited a series of external pressures — including Brexit, Covid-19, economic uncertainty and new international tariffs — as reasons it could no longer continue trading.
While Joanie’s website remains live, customers are currently unable to place orders. The statement also advises customers to contact FRP Advisory, with comments now disabled across the brand’s Instagram posts.
Opening the message, the company wrote:
“Thank you! Joanie has entered its final chapter.”
The statement continued:
“We created Joanie over many years of hard work, and have been a proudly independent brand and business for over nine years. We’ve enjoyed many successful, fun moments along the way, but in recent years we have met with so many challenges too — many outside of our control.
“Brexit, Covid, economic uncertainty, and most recently barriers to international growth in the form of new tariffs and conflicts, each have taken their toll. We’ve tried our very best to respond to the adverse trading conditions we’ve faced and find the strength and means to keep going, but unfortunately there is no more.”
A brand with global reach and Manchester roots
Founded in Manchester in 2016 by entrepreneur Lucy Gledhill, Joanie Clothing was created with a focus on “feel-good” fashion inspired by nostalgia and built around the principles of slow fashion — encouraging customers to buy less but buy better.
The brand was named after Gledhill’s Great Auntie Joanie and quickly gained a devoted following, affectionately known as the “Joanie Gals”. Joanie became known for its broad size range, playful vintage silhouettes and responsible approach to fashion.
Despite operating primarily as an online retailer, Joanie shipped worldwide and attracted high-profile collaborations. Recent celebrity partnerships included work with Christina Hendricks, while earlier collaborations featured Manchester-born designer Celia Birtwell and a unique collection inspired by Coronation Street, celebrating the cobbles, terraces and shops of the iconic Manchester soap.
Emotional farewell to staff and customers
In its statement, the company paid tribute to its team, freelancers, suppliers and partners, acknowledging the impact the closure will have.
“To our talented, hard-working team who helped create this lovely, responsible brand, we say well done. It’s been a privilege to do things our way, with pride and resilience.
“We are so sorry that the situation has forced us to end our fantastic work together.”
The message closed with a heartfelt thank you to customers around the world:
“We are hugely grateful to our loyal Joanie Gals who have bought our clothes and, in many cases, filled whole wardrobes with our label. We have been so proud to dress you, and to help you look and feel the best version of you.”
Joanie Clothing was headquartered in Ardwick, Manchester, for eight years, before moving its registered office to North Yorkshire last year. Its closure marks the end of one of Manchester’s most recognisable independent fashion success stories of the past decade.
