On what date did Forever 21 file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy?

Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 29, 2019. The filing was made in the United States as the retailer sought to reorganize its debts and shrink its store footprint.

The company’s difficulties reflected several pressures at once: rapid international expansion, expensive oversized stores, declining mall traffic, competition from other fast-fashion brands, and a weaker e-commerce business. Forever 21 announced plans to close stores and leave numerous international markets while focusing on its more profitable operations.

A common mix-up is the date September 30, which appeared in many news reports because the filing was announced Sunday night and widely reported the following day. The actual filing date was September 29. This was Forever 21’s first Chapter 11 filing; the company filed again in March 2025.