Club Monaco closing down sale, apparently.

Salut! If you are leaving, that is.

From KLue’s twitter :

RT @amrirahim: CLUB MONACO Closing Down Sale @ The Gardens. Up to 80% off with multiple purchase discount. Starts August 19. #kl

3:18 AM Aug 18th via Twitter for iPhone

Is this piece of news verified? Are all Club Monaco stores in Malaysia closing down? So my prediction is true after all!

If anyone had been noticing, Club Monaco hasn’t brought in any new clothes for at least a year. One thing for sure is that there weren’t any new items on the racks since Fall/Winter ‘09/10 and the most recent Spring Summer ‘10, although I can’t be certain for Spring Summer ‘09. When my shopaholic friend and I noticed exactly the same clothes that go on sale every time in their Gardens branch- the same old green and white ribbon belt, v-neck tee’s in the same colour, that navy blue knit tie- the alarm bells are already ringing to signal that the end was nigh. In fact, my friend was bold enough to ask one of the sales staff late last year whether they were closing down, to which we were replied with a neutral smile.

If it is true that they are closing their Malaysian chapter, this means they would join the ranks of Gant as yet another casualty in Malaysian shopping who are still doing well overseas. It would be sad to see another clothing retailer, one that afforded Malaysians a bigger view of global fashion trends, to bite the dust. Club Monaco was to me a retailer that gave fashion-deprived KL not just classic and stylish clothing, but more importantly access to key seasonal items which otherwise would be available only in Zara or Topshop albeit much later. They stocked slim trousers, the knit-ties, ribbon belts, gingham and seersucker long before the others did, along with some good-looking classics like linen sportcoats.

The price may explain why their shops are seldom chock full of people- I would only buy Club Monaco items during the sale, of which are usually pretty genuine. The exchange rate means labels that are considered ‘budget’ in the US and Japan, including Club Monaco, Gap and Gant, are sold at premium prices in KL. If a mega retailer like Gap could close its doors in Pavilion, KL’s supposedly premier shopping mall, what more could be said about a brand with a higher price range and a slightly niche appeal?

Me? I would drop by the Gardens to verify this piece of news. But I would not buy anything albeit being my last chance- I have seen their rather dismal (and depleting) range of items over the last two sales, and I do not think things would be any different this time. That said, they would definitely be sorely missed (if it were true that they were closing down). Here’s to more affordable (and good looking) clothes.