Sass & Bide closes stores and plans relaunch to reclaim indie-sleaze identity

The Myer-owned label will close its stores and e-commerce site for several months and plans a relaunch later this year aimed at younger shoppers; the article says recent collections moved away from the brand's original indie-sleaze artistry.

Sass & Bide will close its stores and e-commerce site for several months, the Myer-owned label announced. The temporary pause is scheduled to begin by the end of January. The brand was founded in 1999 by Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton and rose to prominence with distressed denim and embellished pieces associated with the indie-sleaze era. Both founders left the business in 2014 after Myer acquired the label in transactions in 2011 and 2013. Key facts: - Myer said all Sass & Bide retail channels will close by the end of January, including three standalone boutiques, 14 concession stands and the e-commerce site. - The business plans a relaunch later this year and says the relaunch will aim to reach younger shoppers. - Myer acquired the label in two transactions in 2011 and 2013 for approximately $70m, and both founders exited in 2014. - The article reports that recent collections moved toward conservative, work-focused styles and away from the brand's earlier indie-sleaze aesthetic. - A company spokesperson said the relaunch would draw on Sass & Bide's heritage and be relevant to a new generation. Summary: Sass & Bide’s temporary closure marks a strategic pause as the label is repositioned toward younger customers. The company intends to relaunch later this year and says it will rely on the brand’s heritage. Whether the relaunch will restore the brand’s original artistic identity is undetermined at this time.