Wolford
Lanvin Group · Austria
Wolford is an Austrian luxury legwear and bodywear brand founded in Bregenz around 1950. It is majority owned by Lanvin Group, the fashion group formed from Fosun's luxury holdings, which acquired control in 2018. Known for tights, stockings and seamless bodies, Wolford is currently undergoing a turnaround after several years of falling sales.
| Founded | 1949/1950, Bregenz |
|---|---|
| Founders | Reinhold Wolff and Walter Palmers |
| Owner | Lanvin Group (majority, since 2018) |
| Headquarters | Bregenz, Austria |
| Chief executive | Marco Pozzo (since 2026) |
| Segment | Luxury legwear and bodywear |
| Website | wolford.com |
What is Wolford?
Wolford AG is a luxury brand of legwear, bodywear, lingerie and ready to wear, headquartered in Bregenz on Lake Constance. It is best known for high quality tights, stockings and seamless bodies. Wolford is majority owned by Lanvin Group, which also controls Lanvin, Sergio Rossi and St. John Knits.
History
Wolford was established in Bregenz by industrialist Reinhold Wolff and retailer Walter Palmers; sources give 1949 or 1950 as the founding date. It became a stock corporation in 1988 and listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange in 1995. In 2018 the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International became majority shareholder, and Wolford was later placed in the Lanvin Group portfolio.
Recent years have been difficult. Wolford raised 25 million euros through a rights issue in 2025 to fund its transformation, and FashionUnited reported preliminary 2025 revenue of 76 million euros, down 14 percent, with store closures weighing on own retail. In February 2026 Marco Pozzo, who joined in July 2025, was promoted to chief executive officer.
Products and positioning
Wolford positions itself as a luxury specialist in fine knitted products. Its assortment includes:
- Tights, stockings and leggings
- Seamless bodies and shapewear
- Lingerie and underwear
- Ready to wear knitwear and accessories
Business model and distribution
Wolford sells through its own and partner operated boutiques, wholesale accounts and online stores in around 60 countries. Production takes place mainly in Austria and Slovenia.
Wolford and technology
The company is known for seamless knitting techniques. It became a bluesign system partner in 2015, launched biodegradable garments in 2018 and received Cradle to Cradle Gold certification in 2019, making it an early example of circular design in luxury hosiery.
Why it matters
Wolford illustrates the challenge of turning a narrow, premium category into a full luxury lifestyle brand. Its recovery under Lanvin Group will test whether a heritage hosiery specialist can rebuild growth through product focus and a leaner store network.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Wolford?
Wolford is majority owned by Lanvin Group, the fashion group created from Fosun International's luxury holdings. Fosun became majority shareholder in 2018.
Where is Wolford from?
Wolford is an Austrian brand founded in Bregenz, on Lake Constance, where it is still headquartered. Much of its production also takes place in Austria.