Peter Kern Rescues La Perla, Securing 210 Jobs

The brand faced years of economic difficulties, culminating in its manufacturing arm, La Perla Manufacturing Srl, being declared insolvent by the Bologna court in February 2024. This led to workers, including seamstresses, protesting in front of the European Parliament in January 2024, demanding legislation to protect them from financial speculation and job cuts, with 126 jobs under threat in October 2019 and 100 roles from its Bologna headquarters in July 2019.

The acquisition by Kern, also a wine investor, was revealed in June 2025, following a lengthy cross-border insolvency process coordinated between UK and Italian officials, utilizing a landmark protocol. Joint liquidators Andrew Watling and Duncan Beat of Quantuma managed the proceedings.

Prior to Kern's acquisition, other entities showed interest, including Italian group Oniverse (formerly Calzedonia), owner of Intimissimi and Falconeri, in January 2025. The brand had a tumultuous history, including a 23 million euros capital increase confirmed by Perla Fashion Holding in May 2019, a public offering on Euronext Growth Market in Paris in September 2019, and multiple changes in ownership and leadership, including Sapinda Holding B.V. acquiring it in February 2018 after talks with Fosun International.

The Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (Mimit) announced the new investor would secure production and jobs, leading the heritage brand into a new future.