MILAN — Pronovias has teamed with Elisabetta Franchi for a bridal and occasionwear collection that will bow in the second half of the year.
“I always dressed my customers for their special occasions to make them feel beautiful and confident,” said Franchi, who has developed a loyal community, also through a strong social media personal connection. “I am enthusiastic that this line will allow the brand to accompany them in such a special day.”
Marc Calabia Gibert, chief executive officer of Gruppo Pronovias, said the collaboration signals the commitment of the company to the Italian market, “elevating the bridal fashion standards, offering brides around the world a unique experience in the choice of innovative and avant-garde models.”
Calabia Gibert, who joined the group in September, said the synergies between Pronovias and Franchi mark “a significant step in the sector,” further evolving the category, and underscoring the “innovation, quality and artisanal elements” of both companies.
A look from the first Elisabetta Franchi collection with Pronovias.
This is Pronovias’ latest collaboration with a leading designer, ranging from Valentino and Elie Saab to Ungaro, among others.
Pronovias’ portfolio of brands includes the namesake label as well as Atelier Pronovias and Nicole Milano, in addition to licenses for bridal collection of brands such as Marchesa and Vera Wang.
The company, based in Barcelona, was founded by Alberto Palatchi Bienveniste in 1922 and over the years it has built a network of 92 stores. Its collections are distributed through 4,000 points of sale. BC Partners bought a 90 percent stake in Pronovias in 2017.
As reported, former Gucci president and CEO Marco Bizzarri in April invested in Elisabetta Franchi, acquiring a 23 percent stake through a personal holding called Nessifashion, becoming chairman of the Italian fashion company.
Franchi founded her brand in 1998 in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region and holds seasonal fashion shows in Milan. The designer’s parent company, Betty Blue, which is set to close 2023 with sales of 170 million euros and a margin of earnings before interest and taxes of 31.8 percent, relies on its own production chain. The brand is present in 78 countries and counts about 100 monobrand stores.
Elisabetta Franchi
The arrival in February of Gabriele Maggio as CEO was a first sign of changes at the brand, which pointed to further international expansion and the strengthening of its position as a luxury fashion label.
Maggio, whose career in fashion spans more than 25 years, was previously president and CEO of Stella McCartney, which he exited in December, succeeded by Amandine Ohayon (incidentally previously CEO of Pronovias). Prior to McCartney, Maggio was general manager of Moschino and previously held several senior executive and board-level positions at both Gucci and Bottega Veneta. His curriculum also includes experiences at Giorgio Armani and Prada.