Bally (fashion house)

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]

Bally International SA
IndustryFashion
Founded1851 (1851) in Schönenwerd, Switzerland
FounderCarl Franz Bally, Fritz Bally
Headquarters
  • Via Industria 1
  • Caslano 6987
  • Switzerland
45.9701507°N 8.8766778°E / 45.9701507; 8.8766778
Number of locations
300+ boutiques
Key people
  • Nicolas Girotto (CEO)
  • Frédéric de Narp (Vice-President)
  • Rhuigi Villaseñor (Creative Director)
Products
  • Shoes
  • bags
  • accessories
  • ready-to-wear
OwnerJAB Holding Company
Websitebally.com

History
Share certificate of C. F. Bally AG, issued 3 October 1907

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]

Boutiques
Bally store in Hong Kong

As of January 2020, Bally's retail network includes 311 boutiques, with 500 multi-brand points of sale spanning 66 countries.[10]

References
  1. Rhuigi Villaseñor leaves Bally after less than two years Vogue, Maliha Shoaib, May 16, 2023
  2. Dudbridge, Saxony. "Bally Biography". Cakewalk Yourself. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. "Carl Franz Bally (1821 – 99)". European Route of Industrial Heritage. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. Labelux Group acquires Bally International AG from Texas Pacific Group Inc AlacraStore.com
  5. Conti, Samantha (19 September 2013). "Frédéric de Narp Heading to Bally". WWD. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  6. Man, Pui-Guan (9 February 2018). "Shandong Ruyi snaps up Bally".
  7. Muret, Dominique (10 May 2019). "Bally promotes COO Nicolas Girotto to CEO role". Fashion Network. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  8. "RHUDE's Rhuigi Villaseñor Is Appointed as Bally's Creative Director". HYPEBEAST. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. "Bally Appoints Rhude's Rhuigi Villaseñor as Creative Director". Highsnobiety. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. "Nicolas Girotto – CEO Bally". Bilanz. January 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
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