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These once-hot fashion brands are losing money and slashing stores

<p><strong>SEARS</strong><br> According to Business Insider, the company will close <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-sears-and-kmart-stores-closing-2017-1" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores</a> by April 2017. which makes up 10 per cent of Sears’ store base.<br> (Mike Mozart/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Bebe</strong><br>The California-based retailer had <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bebe-closing-stores-2017-4" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:180 stores at the end of 2016;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">180 stores at the end of 2016</a>, and announced that it would close them all by May 2017.<br>(Phillip Pessar/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Ralph Lauren</strong><br>The iconic American brand announced in June 2016 it would cut about 1,000 jobs and close 50 stores. In April 2017, the label said it was <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ralph-lauren-closing-polo-flagship-store-2017-4" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:closing its flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue in New York City;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">closing its flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue in New York City</a>.<br>(Nicole Beauchamp/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Kit and Ace</strong><br>Founded in 2014, the Vancouver-based brand said in April 2017 that it would <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/04/26/kit-and-ace-trims-head-office-staff-international-stores.html" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:cease operations in the U.K., U.S. and Australia.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">cease operations in the U.K., U.S. and Australia.</a><br>(Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images) </p>
<p><strong>Payless ShoeSource</strong><br>On April 5, the Kansas-based retailer announced it was <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/05/payless-bankrupt_n_15827138.html" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:closing nearly 400 stores. It currently has over 4,400 stores in 30 countries.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">closing nearly 400 stores. It currently has over 4,400 stores in 30 countries.</a><br>(Mike Mozart/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Guess</strong><br>In mid-March, the jeansmaker announced that it planned to close <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fashion-brands-disappearing-across-the-us-2017-3/#guess-6" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:60 stores by the end of 2017;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">60 stores by the end of 2017</a>. This is in addition 62 store closures in the last two years.<br>(Clotee Pridgen Allochuku/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>American Apparel </strong><br>The company announced it would close <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-apparel-stores-to-close_us_587bb45ce4b09281d0eb6a28" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:all its 110 stores including its Los Angeles headquarters;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">all its 110 stores including its Los Angeles headquarters</a> by the end of April 2017.<br>(EG Focus/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Abercrombie & Fitch</strong><br> In March 2017, the brand announced it was closing a further 60 U.S. stores. This would reduce A&F’s store count to roughly <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/02/abercrombie-stores/" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:670 stores this year from 839 only five years ago;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">670 stores this year from 839 only five years ago</a>.<br> (Herry Lawford/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>BCBG Max Azria</strong><br>After filing for bankruptcy protection on March 1, the company is closing <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/03/01/bcbg-max-azria-stores-to-close-under-bankruptcy-filing.html" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:120 of the 175 stores in the U.S. and all 51 BCBG Max Azria stores in Canada;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">120 of the 175 stores in the U.S. and all 51 BCBG Max Azria stores in Canada</a>.<br>(Josh Hallet/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Macy’s</strong><br>Macy’s announced in January 2017 that it <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-macys-stores-closing-2017-1" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:would shut down 68 stores as part of a larger plan to close about 100 stores;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">would shut down 68 stores as part of a larger plan to close about 100 stores </a>— 15% of its store base — over the next couple of years.<br>(Mike Mozart/Creative Commons) </p>
<p><strong>Express Inc.</strong><br>The American retailer announced May 4 <a rel="nofollow" href="https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/american-clothing-retailer-express-close-164207034.html" data-ylk="slk:that it’s closing its 17 Canadian stores in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">that it’s closing its 17 Canadian stores in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.</a><br>(Mike Mozart/Creative Commons) </p>
Iman Sheikh

Unofficially called the ‘retail apocalypse,’ 2017 is a bad year for fashion brands so far.

From boutiques to department stores, thousands of mall-based retail locations are ceasing operations in a giant wave of mass closures and bankruptcies. As many retailers embrace e-commerce and move away from the brick-and-mortar model, here’s a look at some of the biggest brands of the last few decades that are — or may soon be — closing up shop for good.