After 17 yrs, S’pore fashion label The Closet Lover will close due to founders’ health battle

Singaporean fashion label The Closet Lover (TCL) has announced that it will be closing its online and offline stores after 17 years.

Both of TCL’s founders, Brianna and Bertilla Wong, were previously diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (more commonly known as lupus), an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs, and will be closing the brand to prioritise their health.

In an interview with The Straits Times, Bertilla Wong, 35, shared that her older sister’s health took “a turn for the worse” during a two-week visit to South Korea in February.

“She experienced very high blood pressure. Her legs and limbs were extremely swollen, and she even had difficulty breathing at times, such that she had to visit the doctor twice while she was in Seoul,” she said. Brianna, now 39, was warded when she returned to Singapore.

It’s estimated that nine out of every 10,000 Singaporeans are affected by lupus, which is approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people. While the main cause of the disease remains unknown, some symptoms associated with it include joint pain, fatigue, and a butterfly rash that appears across the cheeks and nose.

Bertilla shared with The Straits Times that the doctor informed her older sister, Brianna, that her kidneys and heart were inflamed due to the stress she was facing and advised her to prioritise her health.

When I heard that, I was very worried and persuaded her to end the business first to recuperate because I want her to live.

But a comeback is not out of the cards

What started as a passion project for the sister duo in 2007 turned into one of Singapore’s recognisable homegrown fashion brands.

The brand started out as an online blogshop and grew into the brick-and-mortar space, owning four outlets at one point. Currently, it has three stores in Bugis, Orchard, and Tampines.

TCL has also expanded overseas, operating four stores: two in Malaysia and another two franchise stores in Cambodia, before they closed in 2021 and 2024, respectively.

According to Bertilla, the company was bringing in under S$10 million annually post-COVID-19, but noted that customers are “thinking twice” about spending money on clothes. To ensure the brand continues to remain relevant, the company started conducting regular livestream sales to promote its products.

“We also had to cut some of our retail leases previously as well, so there were definitely some financial losses. But, ultimately, even if the business was doing super well, we wouldn’t have been able to keep it going if we were to run it at the expense of our health.”

However, some might ask why the sisters did not choose to sell the brand instead, to which Bertilla responded saying that they have considered the option but decided against it as they are central to TCL’s branding and sales, and there was “no point” if they have to continue to help in its operations after selling.

“The priority for us right now is to rest and recuperate from the stress of running the business and not think of anything else,” Bertilla reiterated to The Straits Times.

Following their announcement, TCL will continue hosting its weekly livestreams and launches, with their final collection, a collaboration with an unnamed international brand, scheduled to be released on May 25.

The company will officially end its online and offline operations on June 15, 2025—but Bertilla also teased a potential comeback for the brand in the future.

“My sister is still very interested in fashion, and when she gets better, she may still come up with something on a smaller scale, something more manageable that will not affect her health,” she said, adding that Brianna will still appear on her TikTok live streams from time to time.

Vulcan Post has reached out to The Closet Lover for additional comments

Featured Image Credit: The Closet Lover