(Reuters) - Struggling teen apparel retailer Aeropostale Inc AROP.PK filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, succumbing to years of losses as shoppers moved on to fast-fashion retailers and online competitors.

A customer enters an Aeropostale store in Broomfield, Colorado, United States May 14, 2015. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Aeropostale said it plans to finance its operations during its bankruptcy through a $160 million loan from Crystal Financial LLC combined with operating cash flow, according to a court filing. (1.usa.gov/21vjWta).

The company said it expects to emerge out of bankruptcy within six months with a resolution of its disputes with former shareholder Sycamore Partners, which had thrown a lifeline of $150 million to the retailer in 2014.

“Aeropostale will likely emerge from Chapter 11 as a leaner entity with a smaller, but largely profitable, store base...but it does not solve the issue of relevance to the market,” said Neil Saunders, chief executive of research firm Conlumino.

The mall-based retailer said it would close 113 U.S. stores and all 41 stores in Canada.

“Rethinking the brand proposition is key to improving prospects. Chapter 11 buys Aero time and space to undertake this rethink. In itself does not provide a long-term solution,” Saunders said.

The difficult market for teen apparel has triggered bankruptcy filings by high-profile retailers such as American Apparel Inc, Quiksilver Inc and Sports Authority Inc in the past year.

Online retailers and fast-fashion retailers such as H&M, Forever 21 and Inditex's ITX.MC Zara have posed a threat to traditional apparel retailers, but American Eagle Outfitters Inc AEO.N and Abercrombie & Fitch Co ANF.N have managed to turn around their businesses by controlling inventories and responding faster to changing fashion trends.

Aeropostale said in March it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a sale, citing a dispute with a vendor, MGF Sourcing US, an affiliate of Sycamore Partners.

Established by R.H. Macy’s & Co in the early 1980s, Aeropostale made its stock market debut in 2002 but the New York Stock Exchange delisted the shares in April.

The company operated 739 Aeropostale stores in 50 states and Puerto Rico and 25 P.S. from Aeropostale stores in 12 states, as of May 1.

The company listed assets in the range of $100 million to $500 million, and liabilities of $100 million to $500 million

The case is in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New York, Case No: 16-11275.