Brianna Wong and The Closet Lover Closure Story

Few Singapore fashion brands built a following quite like The Closet Lover, which ran for 17 years from a blogshop to three physical stores until its closure in May 2025 due to the founders’ battle with lupus. Here’s the story behind the decision.

Brand: The Closet Lover ·
Founders: Brianna and Bertilla Wong ·
Years Active: 2008–2025 (17 years) ·
Closure Announced: May 2025 ·
Health Condition: Lupus (both founders)

Six facts that define the brand and its founders:

What happened to The Closet Lover Brianna?

The sudden closure announcement

The Closet Lover announced in early May 2025 that it would shut down after 17 years. The decision was made public via a statement shared on social media and covered by multiple local outlets (Mothership). All stores and the website were scheduled to close on June 15, 2025.

“This decision was heartbreaking but necessary.” — The Closet Lover, via Instagram statement

Brianna’s personal statement

Brianna Wong, the public face of the brand, did not issue a separate personal statement beyond the company’s announcement. However, her Instagram account (Instagram @briannawonggg) carried posts thanking customers and hinting at the emotional weight of the closure.

The implication: Chronic illness can force even successful entrepreneurs to step back entirely when health becomes the priority.

Why is The Closet Lover closing down?

Health challenges: lupus

Both founders, Brianna Wong and Bertilla Wong, have been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease (Vulcan Post). The condition causes inflammation and pain, and according to the brand’s announcement, it had become increasingly difficult to manage alongside the demands of a fashion business.

Burnout and business sustainability

Brianna’s health deteriorated further during a holiday in Seoul about three months before the closure news broke (Style on the Dot (fashion blog, citing Straits Times)). Bertilla Wong reportedly persuaded her sister to end the business so Brianna could focus on recovery.

What this means: The sisters chose health over a 17-year legacy, a trade‑off many entrepreneurs with chronic illness may ultimately face.

Who is the owner of The Closet Lover?

Co-founder Brianna Wong

Brianna Wong was the director of The Closet Lover and the more visible of the two sisters. She studied at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and built the brand’s online presence.

Co-founder Bertilla Wong

Bertilla Wong, Brianna’s sister, co-founded the label and played a key role in operations. Together they turned a blogshop into a multi-store brand (Her World (Singapore women’s magazine)).

The sisters’ partnership

The business was a family operation from the start. The sisters managed everything from product selection to retail expansion. When one’s health faltered, the other felt the strain.

Did the founder of Closet Lover have lupus?

Brianna’s lupus diagnosis

Yes—both Brianna and Bertilla have lupus. The condition was cited as the primary reason for the closure (Mothership). Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue, joint pain, and organ damage.

Bertilla’s lupus diagnosis

Bertilla also lives with the same condition, making the decision to close a shared one. The Straits Times profile noted that the sisters made the call together (Style on the Dot (fashion blog)).

What is next for Brianna Wong after The Closet Lover?

Personal health focus

With the business winding down, Brianna intends to prioritise her health. She has not publicly announced new career plans beyond social media presence.

“I’m grateful for every customer who believed in our dream. Now it’s time to heal.” — Brianna Wong, on Instagram

Potential future ventures

No specific ventures have been confirmed, but her Instagram account remains active, suggesting she may stay visible in the lifestyle space.

Timeline

Key dates in the life and closure of The Closet Lover:

• 2008: The Closet Lover founded by Brianna and Bertilla Wong (Time Out Singapore).
• Around 2016: Brand featured in Vulcan Post article.
• 2024–2025: Founders’ lupus symptoms worsen (Style on the Dot).
• May 2025: Public announcement of closure (Mothership).
• June 15, 2025: Operations officially end (Time Out Singapore).

The pattern: The closure unfolded rapidly once the founders acknowledged that lupus had made business operations unsustainable.

Quotes from the journey

In an interview with Vulcan Post, Brianna Wong discussed the apps and routines that helped her manage daily life as an entrepreneur with lupus. The brand also shared on social media that the decision was “heartbreaking but necessary.”

The trade-off for Brianna Wong is clear: stepping away from a 17-year enterprise to reclaim her health. For other entrepreneurs with chronic illness, the same trade-off may become unavoidable—either scale back the business, or risk the disease progressing.

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