Gerbe
France
Gerbe is a French hosiery and lingerie brand founded in 1904 by Stéphane Gerbe and based in Saint-Vallier in Saône-et-Loire. It is known for stockings and tights made in France. Its ownership has changed repeatedly, and published sources disagree on the current owner.
| Founded | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Stéphane Gerbe |
| Headquarters | Saint-Vallier, France |
| Segment | Lingerie, swimwear and hosiery |
| Owner | Disputed in sources; not confirmed |
| Website | gerbe.com |
What is Gerbe?
Gerbe is a French maker of stockings, tights and other hosiery, with lingerie also associated with the brand. Sources date its founding to 1904, when Stéphane Gerbe established the company in Saint-Vallier, in the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy. The factory there has carried the French heritage label for companies with rare craft skills.
History
The company built its reputation on stockings and later tights. French sources record the introduction of the seamed "bas carnation" in 1936 and the very fine "Voile 7" stocking in 1950. In the 1960s tights became a major product line.
Gerbe has also had a turbulent corporate history. It passed through several owners from the 1980s onward, including a Canadian group in 1984, Cobepa in 1988 and Altus in 1992. It filed for bankruptcy in 1998 and again before 2003, when Alain Regad acquired it through the yarn group Rhovyl and renamed it Manufacture Gerbe. Rhovyl itself filed for bankruptcy in 2015.
Accounts of what followed differ. One French reference page says the brand then passed to the Tianci Hot Springs group and that the company was liquidated in November 2020, while an English reference page still names Alain Regad as owner. Because the sources conflict, this profile does not name a current owner.
Products and positioning
The range centres on hosiery, from classic tights to fashion pieces treated as accessories. Gerbe has stressed production in France, and the English reference page says its yarn is produced within Rhovyl, which the brand says gives it control over quality.
Business model and distribution
A 2009 trade report described collections sold through Galeries Lafayette and Gerbe's own Paris boutiques, on the rue du Cherche-Midi and rue Vieille-du-Temple. That mix of department store wholesale and a small number of own shops reflects a niche, heritage positioning rather than mass distribution.
Why it matters
Gerbe is one of the best-known surviving names in French hosiery and an example of a heritage manufacturer whose ownership has shifted many times. For retailers and analysts, it illustrates both the appeal of Made in France craft and the financial pressure on small European textile producers.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Gerbe from?
Gerbe is a French brand founded in 1904 by Stéphane Gerbe. It is based in Saint-Vallier, in Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy.
Who owns Gerbe?
Ownership has changed many times and sources disagree. Alain Regad acquired it through Rhovyl in 2003, and one French source reports a later sale to the Tianci Hot Springs group and a liquidation in 2020, so the current owner is not confirmed here.