Fashion: Gerry Weber submits bankruptcy application

The women’s fashion manufacturer Gerry Weber has to be renovated again. At the Bielefeld District Court, an application for bankruptcy was submitted in self -administration, according to a message. The aim of the procedure is therefore to continue the company. Lucas Flöther was ordered as the administrator. The “Wirtschaftswoche” had previously reported about it.

The parent company Gerry Weber International GmbH is affected by bankruptcy. According to their own statements, this employs almost 230 people in Germany. The business in the 32 own shops and 11 outlets in this country should continue without restrictions. Now a new owner is being sought. According to the dpa, the first talks are already underway.

The process of restructuring Christian Gerloff, who has been appointed to the management, is to accompany the process. Among other things, he justified the step with the weak consumer climate in Germany and other parts of Europe. Despite the deep cuts at Gerry Weber in recent years, it is necessary to adapt strategy and structures again, said Gerloff.

More than half of the business in 2023 closed

Gerry Weber International was last renovated twice – 2019 and 2023. A year and a half ago in Germany, 122 of the 171 own shops and outlets were closed and about 450 places were canceled.

Gerry Weber was founded in Halle in Westphalia in 1973, then under the name Hatex KG. According to its own statements, the fashion company is active in more than 60 countries. A total of around 1,000 people are employed in all companies of the group at home and abroad.

Sonior customers, high costs

The fashion industry experiences challenging times. Most recently, well -known companies such as the Galeria department store chain as well as the fashion retailers Esprit and Sinn insolvency registered. The companies are fighting with the fact that customers consume cautiously and the costs of energy, rent and salaries have increased significantly. It can be expected that even more dealers came under pressure this year, said the President of the BTE industry association, Mark Rauschen.

The situation is particularly difficult in the inpatient textile and fashion trade, which suffered high losses during the pandemic. Then the business picked up speed again, but so far you have not been able to build on the previous level. According to a BTE association survey of 150 companies, only a third of the dealers can expect significant sales plus this year.