NXT Fashion, the company which took over fashion chains Miss Etam and Steps last year, has applied for court protection from creditors.

Owner Martijn Rozenbloom told the Telegraaf the main reason is the lockdown – which slashed income – and which was made worse when non-essential shops were closed in mid December.

In addition, he blames the state jobs agency UWV which has refused applications for income support (NOW) because NXT Fashion is effectively new. It took over the two chains, plus Expresso and Claudia Strater, when their owner FNG Group went bust last year.

Miss Etam and Steps have 44 branches and a workforce of 340. ‘This is really sad for the workers,’ Rosenboom said. ‘It was unnecessary but applying for court protection from creditors is now unavoidable.’

In a parallel move, unions and the NXT Fashion works council have applied to have the company declared bankrupt, because January’s wages were not paid.

Bankruptcy could mean the workers did get some of their missing wages, the AVV union said.