A fashion victim of recession as capital clothing firm closes

Sam Thomas, which had both a clothing and accessories store in the West End, has gone into liquidation after more than 15 years in business in the capital.

A third store in St Andrews has also been closed by owner Samantha Withall, whose company was previously named the UK's best knit retailer.

Sam Thomas, which had stores in Stafford Street and William Street, is the latest in a string of well-known Edinburgh retailers to close in recent years.

The founders of Edinburgh-based upmarket lingerie firm Boudiche called in administrators last summer, while the celebrated George Street ironmonger James Gray and Son closed its doors after 190 years this year. Another capital institution, the clothing store Aitken & Niven, has moved out of George Street and been replaced by a tapas restaurant.

The owners of three shops in the West End - Boobytrap, Trinket and Arkangel - blamed roadworks and tramworks when they decided to pull the plug on their stores earlier this year. The latter reopened as Arkangel & Salon under new owners.

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Ms Withall had been one of the leading retailers in the area to throw her weight behind a campaign to raise the profile of the area by rebranding it as The West End Village.

However, Bruce Cartwright, head of business recovery services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is handling the assets of the company, said the wider economic downturn was behind the closure of Sam Thomas.

He told The Scotsman: "The directors of the company took the decision to put it into provisional liquidation. The company does seem to have experienced a reduction in income as a result of a decline in discretionary spending. It appears to be further evidence of impact of the current climate."

Sarah Cosgrove, Arkangel & Felon's creative director, said: "Trade is certainly variable at the moment.However, we 've only been here a few months and we don't have anything to compare it to.

"We still believe, though, that the West End is a great location for independent retailers, and there's a fantastic community spirit among the shop owners."

Michael Apter, chairman of the West End Traders Association, said: "It's obviously been difficult trading conditions for a lot of people in this area for a long time.

"The various roadworks and tramworks have had a prolonged and debilitating effect here, and the wider economic conditions have obviously had an impact as well."

But he added: "This is still very much a thriving area, with new retailers opening up, and other new businesses, like Ghillie Dhu and the refurbished Rutland Hotel, helping to bring people into the area."