UK fashion retailer teases new stores despite closing down

Evans, a plus-size clothing brand catering to sizes 14 to 32, shut down all stores and concessions in December 2020 after its parent company, Arcadia Group, fell into administration.

The retailer initially shifted to an online-only model before being acquired by AK Retail in 2023, which also owns Yours Clothing and M&Co.

Now, the business has returned to the high street in locations across the UK, being housed inside Yours Clothing stores.

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After the relaunch, a spokesperson for Yours Clothing, speaking to Fashion Network, said: “Plus-size women are among the most loyal fashion shoppers in the UK.

“When a brand gets it right – when the fit works, the range is genuine, and the product reflects real women, they come back.

“Evans earned that loyalty over decades. And when the brand reduced its high street presence, its customers did not stop looking.”

There was previously an Evans store in Oxford, and this newspaper contacted Yours Clothing to see if there were any plans for the brand to return to the city.

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A spokesperson confirmed the possibility of standalone stores opening up in the future, opening the doors for a potential Oxfordshire spot.

“We are generally looking at expansion; however, Evans forms part of our brands within our Yours stores currently,” they said.

“We may indeed in the future review standalone Evans stores.”

Previously, there was an Evans store on Queen Street in Oxford city centre, as well as a location at Marriotts Walk Shopping Centre in Witney.