BHS blamed for the collapse of supplier as Pretty Polly tights firm goes into administration
An iconic clothing firm that supplied BHS has gone into administration, blaming its collapse on the high street retailer.
Courtaulds makes and supplies branded clothing, including Pretty Polly tights; its collapse will result in the loss of 350 jobs at the company.
CUK Clothing, which merged with Courtaulds in 2006, also went into administration.
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BHS was one of Courtaulds' largest customers. The company's brands are also sold internationally, and its products include hosiery, socks, bras, underwear and nightwear.
Dilip Dattani, partner at RSM Restructuring Advisory and one of the administrators to Courtaulds, said: "The administration of BHS has added to the challenge of operating within a fiercely competitive market for seasonal products.
"This has left the directors with little choice but to place the companies into administration.
"Regrettably, we have been forced to make 350 employees redundant to align with the current order book, and we are assisting them with their claims to the Redundancy Payments service."
BHS went into administration last month, putting nearly 11,000 jobs at risk. It was previously owned by Sir Philip Green, who has since been under pressure to answer questions about the retailer's £571m pension deficit after he sold the company to Retail Acquisitions for £1.
Dominic Chappell, majority owner of Retail Acquisitions, was subsequently found to have been a bankrupt.