Fashion Icon Christian Lacroix Reforms: Topiol Departs After Two Decades of Transformation
Parijs, vrijdag, 4 juli 2025.
After twenty years of strategic leadership, Nicolas Topiol bids farewell to Christian Lacroix. Under his management, the fashion house transformed from a near-bankrupt enterprise to a profitable brand focusing on licences and collaborations. The transfer to Sociedad Textil Lonia (STL) marks a new phase for the renowned fashion house. Topiol successfully maintained the brand’s baroque creativity while implementing a sustainable business model, strategically closing haute couture and ready-to-wear divisions and concentrating on strategic product lines like accessories and lifestyle products.
Strategic Transformation under Topiol
Nicolas Topiol has transformed Christian Lacroix from a struggling fashion enterprise to a profitable brand through decisive strategic decisions. In 2009, he made the crucial decision to close the expensive haute couture and ready-to-wear divisions and focus on profitable licence categories such as fashion accessories, home decor, and lifestyle products [3][4]. This strategic shift saved the brand from imminent bankruptcy, having previously accumulated 150,000 million in losses [3].
Ownership Transfer and New Phase
The transfer of Christian Lacroix to Sociedad Textil Lonia (STL) in January 2025 marks a new strategic phase for the fashion house [1][2]. STL, a Galician group that also owns brands like CH Carolina Herrera and is 25% owned by Puig, has taken full operational responsibility [3][4]. Topiol confirmed his departure via a personal LinkedIn post, stating that the brand is now ‘strong, resilient, profitable, and protected’ [4].
Future Perspectives
After his departure, Topiol will focus on Bechert Corp., a private firm specialising in acquisitions and strategic repositioning [5]. Meanwhile, founder Christian Lacroix remains active in the creative world by designing costumes for theatre and opera in Europe, and occasional collection collaborations such as with Desigual [3].