Churchill wartime tailor Austin Reed in survival fight

Britain’s historic menswear chain Austin Reed, whose suits were worn by Winston Churchill and The Beatles, said Tuesday it had appointed outside help to save the business from closure.

The company’s fall into administration in a bid to save almost 1,200 jobs comes a day after British department store owner BHS made the same move to help avert the loss of 11,000 jobs.

Austin Reed’s administrators AlixPartners said their appointment by the directors of the group was the “result of cash flow difficulties arising from challenging retail market conditions”.

The firm, which also sells office suits for women, was founded by Austin Leonard Reed in 1900.

Austin Reed, whose famous clients also include International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, currently trades out of around 100 stores across Britain and employs a total of 1,184 staff.

During World War II, Austin Reed was commissioned to make the special protective so-called siren suits for prime minister Winston Churchill that he wore inside air-raid shelters.