Couture house Alexandre Vauthier seeks buyer amid difficulties

Amidst significant financial challenges, the illustrious couture house Alexandre Vauthier is currently in search of an acquirer, as initially reported by the economic investigative media outlet, L’Informé. A judicial administration procedure was initiated by the Commercial Court of Paris on Tuesday, February 13.

Renowned for its radical silhouettes and voluminous work, the eponymous Parisian label has been led for 15 years by its creator, designer Alexandre Vauthier (a disciple of Thierry Mugler, he graduated from ESMOD thirty years ago). It has been listed on the official calendar of the Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion for the past ten years.

The house has been in default since November 20, 2023. It transitioned into judicial administration in mid-February and is now seeking buyers. The deadline for submitting offers is set for Friday, March 8. Maître Hélène Bourbouloux (heading the Parisian firm FHBX) is the judicial administrator for this procedure.

Owned by its founder Alexandre Vauthier, the company based in the 16th arrondissement of the capital, which employs 36 staff members, will be under observation until August 13.

When contacted, the Alexandre Vauthier house declined to comment on the situation. The brand achieved a turnover of 12.7 million euros at the close of the fiscal year (as of March 31, 2023) according to accounts filed with the Commercial Court of Paris.

Its women’s ready-to-wear and haute couture collections, leather goods, and shoes are sold via its website, as well as through its network of multi-brand retailers such as the Neiman Marcus chain in the United States, the flagship store of Mytheresa in Munich, and the Parisian boutique Biondini located in a gallery on the Champs-Elysées.

Last July, the house showcased its Fall/Winter 2023-2024 haute couture creations at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, infused with a festive sobriety. The brand, which was announced on the official calendar for the upcoming Paris Fashion Week dedicated to women’s fashion, has withdrawn and will ultimately not present this season.