Camaïeu — French womenswear giant collapsed with 511 stores and 2,600 jobs lost

Camaïeu was a French womenswear chain founded in 1984 in Roubaix, northern France. It grew steadily over three decades, opening its 600th boutique in 2007, becoming one of the most recognisable names on French high streets for affordable, feminine fashion targeting women aged 30–55. At its peak, Camaïeu operated hundreds of stores across France and in several international markets, employing thousands of people and generating significant revenue as a staple of French mid-market retail.

Camaïeu struggled after 2008, facing competition from fast-fashion chains like H&M and Zara offering similar products at lower prices. A relaunch in 2020 saw it taken over by real estate group FIB, but the business plan was later described as fitting on one page. The pandemic struck immediately after the takeover and the weakened retailer could not recover. By 2022, Camaïeu needed €79.2M over eight months to fund collections and asked for a €48M state advance, which was deemed unrealistic and refused.

On 28 September 2022, the Lille Commercial Court declared Camaïeu bankrupt and ordered judicial liquidation. All 511 stores closed for the last time on 1 October 2022. Approximately 2,600 employees lost their jobs directly, with unions estimating total losses exceeded 5,000 including service providers. The company's debts reached €240 million, and all assets were liquidated to partially repay creditors. The collapse was one of the largest French fashion retail failures in decades.