Bally (fashion house) explained

Bally International SA
Logo Upright:0.8
Industry:Fashion
Foundation: in Schönenwerd, Switzerland
Founder:Carl Franz Bally, Fritz Bally
Hq Location:45.9702°N 8.8767°W
Locations:300+ boutiques
Owner:Regent LP
Homepage:bally.com

Bally is a Swiss luxury fashion house established in 1851 by Carl Franz Bally and his brother Fritz. Historically known for its shoes, the brand also produces bags, accessories, and ready-to-wear. Rhuigi Villaseñor was its creative director from 2022-2023.[1]

History

Bally was founded as a shoe making business in 1851 by Carl Franz Bally and his brother Fritz in the basement of their family home in Schönenwerd, Solothurn, Switzerland. Carl Franz Bally had joined the family business, a silk ribbon manufacturer, when he was 17, but decided to go into shoe manufacturing after a stay in Paris. After Carl's death in 1899, the company continued under the management of Carl's sons, Eduard and Arthur[2] and continued to manufacture about two million pairs of shoes a year, employing 3,200 people.[3]

Modern era

In 2008, TPG Capital sold Bally International AG to Vienna-based Labelux Group, a luxury goods holding firm that previously owned Jimmy Choo Ltd, and was founded by the German billionaire Reimann family as part of the family’s investment arm Joh A. Benckiser.[4]

Headquartered in Caslano, Ticino, Switzerland, the company announced Frédéric de Narp, a former executive at Harry Winston, would become its chief executive officer in November 2013.[5] In February 2018, owner JAB Holding Company agreed to sell a majority controlling stake to Chinese materials conglomerate Shandong Ruyi.[6] In May 2019, Bally appointed its COO Nicolas Girotto, who joined the company in October 2015 and sat on the brand's board of directors and executive committee, as new CEO.[7]

In January 2022, Rhuigi Villaseñor was appointed as creative director. Rhuigi was previously founder, CEO, and creative director of the luxury streetwear brand Rhude.[8] [9] In May 2023, after only two collections, Bally and Villaseñor jointly announced his departure from the brand.[10]

Two weeks after the announcement of Villaseñor's departure, Simone Belloti was appointed as design director. The designer previously worked at Gucci for 16 years.[11]

Boutiques

As of January 2020, Bally's retail network included 311 boutiques, with 500 multi-brand points of sale spanning 66 countries.[12]

References

  1. https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/rhuigi-villasenor-leaves-bally-after-less-than-two-years Rhuigi Villaseñor leaves Bally after less than two years
  2. Web site: Dudbridge . Saxony . Bally Biography . 27 December 2020 . Cakewalk Yourself.
  3. Web site: Carl Franz Bally (1821 – 99). 19 October 2015. European Route of Industrial Heritage. 14 May 2020.
  4. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Labelux_Group_Inc_acquires_Bally_International_AG_Texas_from_Texas_Pacific_Group_Inc-1972291040 Labelux Group acquires Bally International AG from Texas Pacific Group Inc
  5. Web site: Frédéric de Narp Heading to Bally . WWD . 19 September 2013 . 19 September 2013 . Conti, Samantha.
  6. Web site: Shandong Ruyi snaps up Bally. Pui-Guan. Man. February 9, 2018.
  7. Web site: Bally promotes COO Nicolas Girotto to CEO role . Fashion Network . 10 May 2019 . 10 May 2019 . Muret, Dominique.
  8. Web site: 2022-01-18. RHUDE's Rhuigi Villaseñor Is Appointed as Bally's Creative Director. 2022-01-25. HYPEBEAST.
  9. Web site: 2022-01-18. Bally Appoints Rhude's Rhuigi Villaseñor as Creative Director. 2022-01-25. Highsnobiety. en.
  10. Web site: Hine . Samuel . 2023-05-16 . Rhuigi Villaseñor and Bally Have Parted Ways . 2024-02-06 . GQ . en-US.
  11. Web site: Garcia-Furtado . Laia . 2023-05-31 . Simone Bellotti Is Bally’s New Design Director . 2024-02-06 . Vogue . en-US.
  12. Web site: Nicolas Girotto – CEO Bally . Bilanz. January 2020 . 16 September 2020.