Stefanel
OVS · Italy
Stefanel is an Italian women's clothing brand founded in 1959 in the Veneto region and known for knitwear. It entered insolvency receivership in September 2019 and was acquired by the retailer OVS. The brand's website operates in 29 locations.
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Origin | Veneto, Italy |
| Owner | OVS |
| Insolvency receivership | September 2019 |
| Sale price | 3.2 million euros (OVS bid) |
| Segment | Premium and contemporary (listed); mid-market under OVS |
| Website | stefanel.com |
What is Stefanel?
Stefanel is an Italian women's fashion label that calls itself "an Italian excellence in women's clothing". Its collections include knitwear, outerwear and accessories, described on its website as made from the finest yarns.
History
FashionNetwork reports that Stefanel was founded in 1959 in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The women's knitwear label had been in crisis for about 10 years when it entered insolvency receivership in September 2019, and it was put up for sale in June 2020. Revenue for 2019 was estimated at roughly 30 million euros.
Acquisition by OVS
OVS won the sale with a bid of 3.2 million euros after approval from Italy's Economic Development Ministry. The group acquired 23 of Stefanel's 27 Italian stores, the trademark and the collection archives. OVS planned to keep 94 of 136 employees, mostly in product development, and to allow staff at the Ponte di Piave head office to move to OVS's headquarters in Mestre. It also planned new stores in locations it already operated and a larger digital presence.
Business model and distribution
Under OVS, a budget fashion retailer that also owns the department store Upim and the homeware retailer Croff, Stefanel is sold through owned retail and e-commerce. The brand's website runs country-specific online shops in 29 locations, including Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Turkey, with Russia on a separate domain.
Why it matters
Stefanel is one of several historic Italian mid-market labels, alongside Les Copains, that have been taken over by OVS and folded into a large retail platform after financial difficulties.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Stefanel?
OVS, the Italian retail group, acquired Stefanel after the brand entered insolvency receivership in September 2019. OVS bid 3.2 million euros, according to FashionNetwork.
Where is Stefanel from?
Stefanel is an Italian brand founded in 1959 in the Veneto region. Its former head office was in Ponte di Piave.