New York label Sies Marjan to close

New York-based label Sies Marjan is closing down its business.

The five-year-old brand, founded by Dutch designer Sander Lak and known for its striking bright collections, was a popular fixture at New York fashion shows. The company was funded by billionaire couple Nancy and Howard Marks.

But it came into trouble last year when one of its major stockists, Barneys, filed for bankruptcy. That was then compounded by the impact Covid-19 has had on the global economy and fashion industry in recent months.

The label has shut down its Instagram and Facebook accounts though its website is still online.

Sies Marjan shutters

“What we have worked on has been a dream come true. Thank you to everyone who has given their time and talent to Sies Marjan over the years,” said Lak in a statement seen by WWD. “Thank you to everyone who has given their time and talent to Sies Marjan over the years. We have built a singular brand whose legacy is not just in the clothes and collections but within each person who contributed along the way.”

Lak, who was formerly the design director of Dries Van Noten and had stints at Balmain and Phillip Lim, launched Sies Marjan - which he named after his parents - at New York Fashion Week in 2017 as exclusively womenswear, before launching a menswear line in autumn 2018.

Last year, Lak made the decision to launch the brand’s first men's only show in Paris during Paris Fashion Week. The brand had previously held a co-ed runway at New York Fashion Week, but following increasing interest in its menswear line, decided to opt for a menswear only show.

Photo credit: Sies Marjan AW18, Catwalkpictures