Christian Lacroix Transitions to Textil Lonia Leadership After CEO Exits

Christian Lacroix is once again closing a cycle. Nicolas Topiol, CEO of the maison for two decades, has left the position just a few months after Société Textile Lonia (STL) took ownership of the French firm, acquired from the U.S. group Falic. His departure coincides with the end of the transition period agreed between the two companies and represents the departure of one of the key executives in the survival of the brand after its bankruptcy process.

Topiol arrived at Christian Lacroix in 2005, shortly after the Falic family took over the reins of the brand following its acquisition from French luxury group LVMH. Under his leadership, the maison managed to turn itself around after the bankruptcy of 2009, which left a hole close to $150 million accumulated since its founding in 1987. Topiol’s strategy was then to close the haute couture and ready-to-wear divisions to focus on the exploitation of licenses in categories such as accessories, home or lifestyle, a model that has allowed to preserve the baroque DNA and exuberant prints of Lacroix without compromising its profitability.

As confirmed by Textil Lonia to Modaes, as part of the transition process between the two companies, “a transitional role was established until the end of June”. With that period now over, responsibility has been taken over entirely by the company’s headquarters, as “the current Christian Lacroix team remains relatively small.“ For the time being, the Spanish company has not named a successor.

Textil Lonia has taken over the management of Christian Lacroix and has not appointed a CEO

Thus, the operational management of Christian Lacroix will be integrated into the structure of STL, Galician group owner of brands such as CH Carolina Herrera or Purificación García, while the French firm maintains its activity focused on licenses and occasional collaborations.

The founder, Christian Lacroix, continues to be linked to the creative world through costume and set design projects for theater and opera in Europe, as well as collaborating with capsule collections such as the line developed with Desigual. However, the couturier is fully disassociated from his eponymous brand.

Founded in 1997, the Spanish company is owned by the brothers Jesús, Javier and Josefina Domínguez and by the perfume group Puig, which holds 25% of the capital. In 2024, Textil Lonia recorded net revenues of €414 million, down from €430 million a year earlier. Operating income contracted from €76.6 million to €48.8 million.