Fashion retailer that became ‘cult UK brand’ loved by celebrities to close after 32 years as owners decide to ‘bow out’
A FASHION brand loved and inspired by celebrities is set to shut up shop for good.
The Norfolk brand Old Town has been loved for decades, especially by acclaimed artists, writers and actors.
But after over 30 years, designers Will Brown and Marie Willey have announced the end of Old Town as they both recently turned 68.
No further orders are being taken as the two designers and their 10 seamstresses wind down the main business.
“We’re in our late sixties and the way we’ve micromanaged this business has absolutely worn us out,” Willey told the Eastern Daily Press.
The news came as a disappointment to many with the retailer’s 200 loyal customers being emailed the details of the closure.
Fans include a number of celebrities such as historian and author Tom Holland who has written numerous best-selling books including Rubicon, Persian Fire, and Dominion.
Actor Toby Jones from Harry Potter, Mr Bates Vs. The Post Office, and Indiana Jones, musician Billy Childish, and author Rebecca May Johnson.
Shakespearean actor Maxine Peake who has featured in numerous films and television shows including Dinnerladies and The Theory of Everything has also been seen sporting the Norfolk brand.
As well as having a current celebrity customer base, David Bowie was an early inspiration for Old Town after Brown designed some garments for the singer in the 1970s and ’80s.
When the fashion retailer first opened in 1992 it was in Elm Hill.
It then moved to Holt in 2000 where it grew into what has been called a “cult British brand” by the EDP.
Old Town became known for its great quality clothes with a tailored, utility-style look.
The team behind the independent business produced up to 80 items of clothing per week.
Material cutting was carried out at the couple’s home studio and the seamstresses sewed them together at home.
Customers were made to choose between a small range of designs and basic but good-quality fabrics like canvas, linen, or cord.
They would give their measurements and the garment would later arrive in the post.
Willey said: “We will continue to work with a shop called Labour and Wait in London, who are helping us find some manufacturing in London.
“We’re hoping to get some manufacturing set up so we don’t need to be involved in the making process – we will just do some designing to keep us going for the next few years.
“Carrying on like we are now just exhausting. We’ve got a fantastic little business but it’s just too much.”
“We’ve done it ourselves and our way,” Willey continued.
“It’s been a marvellous business and the response we’re getting is phenomenal.
“Some blokes have told us they didn’t have much confidence but wearing our clothes completely changed the way they felt about themselves, which is quite something.”