Intimates are getting more attention this season, whether it’s brands changing hands or new lines added to offerings.
On Monday, Dutch investment firm Sapinda Holdings announced that it acquired La Perla after disagreements over moving the lingerie company’s production out of Europe and into China stymied acquisition talks with China’s Fosun, which had been negotiating exclusively to buy the Italian luxury brand since last December, according to Reuters. Sapinda did not disclose any financial information regarding the acquisition.
Sapinda entered the discussion shortly after, a source told Reuters, pledging to keep manufacturing in Italy and Portugal, where the firm has a plant that employs 300 people.
La Perla had been owned by Italian entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia, founder of telecoms group Fastweb, since 2013. Scaglia purchased the struggling group for 69 million euros ($84 million) at a court-led auction, through family holding Pacific Global Management, and invested more than 300 million euros ($367 million) in the brand to fund an expansion into Asia and beyond.
In other intimates news, J.Crew announced the launch of its affordably priced line of women’s intimates, aptly named J.Crew Intimates. This move marks a major step for the U.S. multibrand retailer in cleaning up some of its recent fumbles. With stores closing, poor sales and three of its execs stepping down last year, J.Crew may be looking at this entrance into a market that, according to a Research and Markets report, is projected to reach global profits of more than $30 billion by 2020, as the one that may revive the company.
The collection of delicates is priced between $12.50 to $36, and includes bras and bralettes in four styles, and underwear in three styles (bikini, thong and hipster). Each comes in a variety of colorways, including mauve blush, citrus lime and sun-drenched peony. The collection also includes sleepwear in styles like shortie pajama sets, vintage short sleeves and robes, retailing from $39.50 to $128.
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Stitch Fix also made a recent entry into intimates. Last week the company launched its women’s intimates line, Stitch Fix Extras, a curated assortment of bras, camisoles, panties, shapewear, socks and tights that clients can add to their Fix style boxes.
Customers choose as many intimates as they like, with choices from a variety of top undergarment brands, including Wacoal, Hanky Panky, and the company’s exclusive private label line, Everyday by Stitch Fix. The selections are included in the Fix boxes along with the apparel choices picked by the clients’ personal stylists. Clients pay for the Extras that they keep and return the ones they don’t want.