Bernard Boutique, a renowned premium womenswear store, is closing its Esher, Surrey location this week.
- The boutique, established by Helene Rapaport in 1969, relocated to Esher in 1972.
- Saturday, June 8, marks the store’s final day of trading.
- The online platform, contributing 50% of annual sales, has been inactive since May.
- The closure is attributed to the founders’ personal priorities for health and family time.
Bernard Boutique, an iconic name in premium womenswear, is set to close the doors of its Esher, Surrey store after more than four decades. Founded in 1969 by Helene Rapaport, a former window display designer, the store became a fixture on Esher’s High Street after relocating from Cranleigh in 1972.
Saturday, June 8, will be the final day of trading for the boutique, which has occupied a significant 2,500 sq ft space. This decision follows an announcement made on May 28, confirming the closure plans.
The boutique’s online presence, established in 2015, has been a substantial contributor to its operations, accounting for 50% of its annual sales. However, the website has been inaccessible since late May, signaling the beginning of the end for the store’s operations.
Womenswear constituted the bulk of Bernard Boutique’s revenue, with sales from contemporary brands like Ganni and Isabel Marant making up between 60% and 70%. Meanwhile, footwear from popular labels such as Veja, Golden Goose, and Axel Arigato contributed up to 30% of sales, followed by lifestyle products, which comprised just under 10%.
The boutique earned multiple accolades over its lifetime, including the Designer Store of the Year in 1997 and the Top Buyer of the Year in 1998 at the Drapers Awards. In 2023, Helene Rapaport was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Drapers Independents Awards.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Helene Rapaport expressed a personal note about the closure, stating, “If we could, we would stay in business forever as we have loved every single minute of it, but health now comes first and Barrie [Rapaport, co-founder] and I look forward to some relaxing holidays and family time.”
The closure of Bernard Boutique marks the end of an era for an esteemed establishment in the fashion retail sector.
