Christian Lacroix bought by Spanish group Sociedad Textil Lonia

Christian Lacroix is now flying the Spanish flag. The long-established Parisian fashion house has been sold to Galicia-based group Sociedad Textil Lonia (STL), in which Catalan fashion and fragrance giant Puig holds a 25% stake. “STL, Sociedad Textil Lonia, has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Christian Lacroix as part of a private transaction,” STL said in a press release, without giving details on the transaction’s value. Christian Lacroix had been bought by US group Falic in 2005.

“By acquiring the Christian Lacroix fashion house and its archives, which are a symbol of French haute couture’s history and expertise, STL has added to its brand portfolio, consolidating its international presence in the world of fashion and luxury,” said STL. The Spanish group is keen to add Christian Lacroix to its business, and said it “will do everything [it] can to ensure that the unique talent of its designer and his invaluable contribution to the fashion world reach their full potential.”

STL was founded in 1997 as a vertically integrated textile company operating a design team, its own production facilities for ready-to-wear and accessories, and a distribution network. It is based in the village of O Pereiro de Aguiar, in the Ourense province, and in 2022 it generated revenue of over €400 million. STL set up its own brand, Purificación García, in 1998.

In 2000, STL launched the CH Carolina Herrera lifestyle brand, the younger sibling of Puig-owned Carolina Herrera, following a deal with Carolina Herrera Ltd. In 2014, Puig bought the 25% stake in STL that was held by LVMH. The remaining 75% is in the hands of the Domínguez family, whose third generation has created the Bimba y Lola label. Another branch of the family is in charge of the Adolfo Domínguez label.

Renowned for its bright, exuberant, and baroque style, Christian Lacroix was founded in 1987 by LVMH and the eponymous designer, at the time the creative director of Patou. Lacroix’s creations, rooted in his home-town of Arles, are characterised by a Hispanic feel, lively colours and innovative forms, with a taste for the theatrical.

Items like the pouffe skirt have won over scores of global celebrities, among them Madonna, Julianne Moore and Uma Thurman. Lacroix’s collections quickly gained an international reputation, boosted by fashion editors. Over the years, the label has added perfumes and accessories to its ready-to-wear collections, and opened a string of monobrand stores.

In 2005, LVMH sold Christian Lacroix to US group Falic, a major player in the airport duty-free sector. Four years later, Christian Lacroix left the house. He made a runway come-back in September 2019, invited by Dries Van Noten to collaborate on a jointly designed collection. In parallel, his label has continued to grow, notably through licenses, under the aegis of its new owners.