No rescue came — Bally Studio no longer exists. The 28 redundancy letters have now been delivered, marking the definitive end of attempts to keep alive the company based in Lastra a Signa (Florence), owned by Swiss brand Bally. The decision to close the Florentine operation was among the first moves made by US investment fund Regent LP, which acquired the struggling brand last year from German conglomerate Jab Holding.
Bally Studio no longer exists
A crisis meeting had been convened at the regional level. Rumours circulated about an Italian entrepreneur interested in acquiring the business, and negotiations took place to salvage what could be saved. Unfortunately, all such efforts failed. Bally Studio in Lastra a Signa is now a thing of the past. Of the 55 employees who were still with the company in early December 2024 — when management announced its intent to shut the site — 28 remained, and they have now received their redundancy notices. The rest had already left to find new employment.
No viable path forward
“All possible paths were explored by the unions — from social safety nets to a potential third-party purchase — but none of these proved viable”, explained Giuseppe Franzone of UilTuCS Toscana in an interview with La Nazione. As a result, the remaining employees were left with no option but to agree to a financial settlement. The deal, which Fisascat Cisl also accepted, was not signed by Filcams Cgil, which had requested more time “to verify the interest shown by a third party”, according to Cgil. The Bally Studio case is yet another example of the ongoing crisis affecting Tuscany’s leather goods district.
Photo: Bally
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