La Perla Welcomes Back 220 Former Employees Amid Brand Revival

La Perla is taking the first steps in its relaunch following its acquisition by Peter Kern, former CEO of Expedia this summer. The Italian company specializing in luxury intimate apparel production has announced the rehiring of 220 workers who were made redundant following its declaration of insolvency in early 2024.

As advanced by WWD on Tuesday, the workers will return to their jobs at Atelier, in Bologna, and begin normal operations as of Monday.

The relaunch plan includes an investment of almost €30 million until 2027, according to the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, which has been involved in the phases of the business rescue plan.

The company announced the closing of the sale and purchase operation at auction this summer, with a price that hovered around €25 million. Then, the consulting firm Trombone began working on a plan to relaunch it and to enhance its expertise in collaboration with the new owner.

La Perla’s relaunch plan includes an investment of almost €30 million until 2027

Peter Kern, former CEO of travel agency Expedia and Tuscan wine entrepreneur, became the new president. Kern also put Pablo Vannucchi, CEO of the company from 2017 to 2019, at the helm. 

La Perla announced in May that it had found a buyer for its business, which would allow it to continue operations. The company had declared insolvency early last year and, since then, had received different offers.

Already then, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy assured that one of the points of the relaunch plan was to safeguard the jobs affected by the cancellation of operations.

Driven in 1956 by Ada Masotti, the company remained in the hands of the founding family until 2007, when it became controlled by the venture capital group JH Partners. Later, in 2013, the company was acquired by Silvio Scaglia and in 2018 by Sapinda. Currently, the La Perla brand is owned by La Perla Global Management UK, which controls all assets and holds the rights to sell branded products, and is also in the process of banckruptcy.