In May 2007, a consortium led by Alchemy Partners purchased the company for €70 million from the Brown Thomas Group.

[1] In late 2011, due to the continued economic downturn and high retail rents in the Ireland, Alchemy Partners announced it was to go into receivership.

Its large shops on St Patrick's Street, Cork and Mahon Point did not reopen, nor did its online business.

After failing to exit examinership successfully on Thursday 28 November 2013, all A Wear shops in the Republic of Ireland ceased operation after the appointment of Kavanagh Fennell[7] as receiver by Chelsey Investissement SA.

The remaining shops closed during the period from 24 December 2013 to 11 January 2014, when the final unit shut its doors.