A winding up petition has been served against Manchester Fashion Week Limited (“MFW”). MFW are set to appear before Manchester District Registry on 13 May 2013. Stream Pictures LLP (now trading as Creative Moose) who provided video production services for the event in 2012, presented a winding up petition against MFW on 22 March 2013 over an unpaid bill for £10,766.99.
This year’s five day fashion event was expected to commence on 22 April 2013 however, organisers have since been told they will no longer be able to host the event.
Furthermore, it was revealed that in recent months several models and agencies from last year’s event had also not received payment and MFW is reported to owe more than £20,000 in unpaid wages.
Despite the obvious financial problems and sponsors disassociating themselves with the MFW, the event was still expected to go ahead at a different venue. A spokesperson for MFW stated that “If you have already purchased show tickets you can be assured we will transfer these to the new dates or issue you with a full refund”.
Interestingly, less than two weeks after the company had been issued with the winding up petition, MFW’s director Jonathan Sassen, established a new company called ‘Fashion Foundation Limited’. Pat Ford, credit controller for Stream Pictures LLP stated: “We were continuing with negotiations right up until the petition was advertised but the fact a new company had been set up to carry on with the event did increase our concern that we would not receive what we are owed”.