USC, the designer clothing chain with four Kent branches, is the latest high street casualty of the economic slump.

The Scottish-based retailer backed by entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter was being placed in the hands of administrators PKF today.

But Sir Tom’s investment company West Coast Capital was reported to have immediately snapped up 43 of the chain’s 58 branches, saving up to 1,000 jobs in a controversial arrangement known as pre-pack administration.

But 15 stores will close with the loss of around 300 jobs, mostly part-time.

USC has outlets in Bluewater, Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, Whitefriars Street, Canterbury, and The Glades, Bromley.

Founded in Edinburgh in 1989, it stocks designer labels such as Diesel, Henri Lloyd, Ted Baker and Lacoste.

USC follows other retailers into administration, including Woolworths, the music chain Zavvi, clothing shop The Officers Club and Adams Kids, the childrenswear business.

The chain which boasts on its website that "it’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change," has been hit by the downturn in young fashion spending.

Before the latest developments, the company admitted that it faced adverse conditions and challenges faced by most fashion retailers but that it continued to grow "from strength to strength."

It added: "With strong foundations in place USC will keep moving and evolving with the times. The near future will see further investment in the USC shopping environment both online and in store, continuous improvements in customer service and a diversification of the range of brands on offer; all of which will help endorse and maintain USC’s position as the leading retailer of Premium Brands."

Pre-pack administration is controversial because creditors could face unpaid bills following the administration.