 | |
| Industry | Textile |
|---|---|
| Founded | Anneyron, France (1930) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Products | Apparel |
| Subsidiaries | Eider |
| Website | www.lafuma.com |
Lafuma is a French based company that specializes in outdoor equipment and clothing, such as backpacks, sleeping bags, and footwear. They also offer a wide variety of other equipment, earning comparisons to United States based companies such as Patagonia and Columbia Sportswear. Lafuma owns Oxbow Surfwear Company.
History
Founded in 1930 by the three Lafuma brothers - Victor, Alfred and Gabriel - they engage in the production of backpacks. In 1936, they invent the metal-frame braced backpack, which expands the group considerably. Having produced products for both the French Army, and during the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, for the Wermacht, the company resumes production post-World War 2. In 1954 Lafuma expands into camping furniture.
In 1984, the company goes bannrupt, and is taken over by a grandson of the founders, Philippe Joffard. As a result, in 1985 the compay expands into sleeping bags, and in 1986 moves part of its production to Tunisia. In 1991, the company launches new clothing brands, and in 1992 opens new production facilities in Hungary. This allows the resumption of the production of brands Millet and Le Chameau in 1995.
The company was launched on the CAC second market in 1997, reducing the founding-families share today to around a 15% share holding. Philippe Joffard remains chairman.
Current
In 2004, the company purchased the jeans brand Ober, and in 2005 Oxbow. In 2006, the company began co-branding winter clothing with Thierry Mugler. After a difficult year in 2007, Lafuma resumed production of the Eider brand, but by moving production from Eloise to overseas facilities.
Current
The group is still highly reliant on the domestic French market, with 60% of group turniver generated from French sales. The current brandlines of the group include (with reported sales percentages):[1]
- Lafuma (44.1%)
- Oxbow (28.2%)
- Millet (16.3%)
- Le Chameau (11.4%)
Detailed figures for the licensing of the Killy trademark are not published. Turnover by product is broken down as:[1]
- Clothing (62.5%)
- Accessoires and equipements (12 %) inclduing: backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets, billfolds, mountaineering ropes, strollers
- Shoes and boots (13.1%)
- Camping furniture (12.4%) including: folding chairs, chairs, tables
The group has eight production sites, in: France (4); Hungary (1); Tunisia (1); Morocco (1); and China]] (1).[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Groupe Lafuma". Groupe Lafuma. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
External links
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