Retail fashion chain MS Mode has become the latest Dutch high street group to file for court protection from creditors. The company, which specialises in fashion for ‘curvy women’ says it has been hit by the warm winter and ‘negative sentiment’ in the fashion sector.

The decision does not affect the group’s activities outside the Netherlands and all the shops and webshops remain open, news agency ANP said.

MS Mode has 130 branches in the Netherlands with a workforce of some 660. The group operates a further 270 shops in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Spain.

The company booked sales of €240m last year. MS Mode is owned by entrepreneur Roland Kahn who tried to relaunch the V&D department store group when it went into receivership but failed to get the financing, the Financieele Dagblad pointed out.