"Even the departure of competitors didn't help": clothing stores are closing en masse in Russia

In 2025, the O'STIN chain of stores closed 62 of its locations across Russia and also reduced 15 % employees, they write «Izvestia. According to editorial sources, the network's development has been suspended for now.

Last week, it became known that another of Russia's largest retailers, Gloria Jeans, plans to close about 150 of its stores by the end of 2026. 

Against the backdrop of falling consumer demand, the Snow Queen chain of outerwear stores is carrying out “optimization” in the form of laying off its employees (on 14 %), a chain of footwear and accessories stores Kari (on 12,5 %), "Sportmaster" (on 5%).

In only one Moscow by the beginning of 2026, it was working on 4,5 thousand fewer stores than at the beginning of 2025, in St. Petersburg - on 3 thousands, said the founder of the consulting company INFOLine Ivan FedyakovThis is the most significant reduction since the early 2000s.

"The situation across the country is no better than in the capital cities. And this applies to all retail outlets—from grocery stores, supermarkets, and fruit stands to mobile phone stores and clothing stores," Fedyakov stated.

Experts believe this is due to the proliferation of marketplaces, rising trade costs, tax changes, declining consumption, and high inflation, Forbes writes.

"Even the departure of competitors didn't help," "Another breakthrough. We're proud," "Well, that's great. Jeans are a fashion trend imposed by the West," "So, experience has shown that the departure of major international competitors from the market doesn't necessarily mean that domestic business will flourish," Russians comment.