The Herford clothing group Bugatti Holding Brinkmann GmbH & Co. KG was able to defy the adverse conditions in the 2025 financial year.
As the group of companies, which includes the brands Bugatti, Dressler, Wilvorst and Pikeur, announced on Thursday, sales last year amounted to 191 million euros. This corresponded to an increase of one percent compared to 2024.
According to the group, the export share, which was 47.6 percent in the previous year, increased to 50.9 percent. The most important foreign markets were Austria, Italy, the Benelux countries, Great Britain and Ireland.
Incoming orders are developing positively
Managing partner Julius Brinkmann was correspondingly satisfied. “An overall weak demand put the clothing industry under significant pressure in 2025. Despite this purchasing reluctance, our group of companies remained stable,” he explained in a statement. “We have set an important course that is now having an impact. The current order intake for 2026 is developing positively for the group and gives us confidence.”
Last year, the group said it made “targeted investments in its future viability”. “The focus was on the digitalization of processes and systems, the expansion of e-commerce and web shops, investments in existing buildings and the expansion of photovoltaics,” it said in a statement. In addition, the “strategic realignment of the brands” was further advanced.
The realignment of the Bugatti brand is bearing fruit
The “new brand vision” for the main Bugatti brand will be “implemented across departments in marketing and product development,” the group explained. “We are on the right track. With our clearly sharpened brand image, we can reach our target groups much more precisely and effectively,” emphasized Julius Brinkmann.
The innovations should also pay off this year: “The market response and also the sales expectations for the autumn/winter 2026 season are positive,” said the company. In addition, the women’s fashion category has experienced “pleasant development” and will be “further expanded, particularly in the key account area,” in 2026.
The group specifically highlighted Bugatti’s successful licensing business, which set a new record last year, not least due to international expansion. “The 13 Bugatti license partners achieved sales of around 166 million euros in 2025, which corresponds to an increase of 7 percent compared to the previous year,” said the group of companies. However, these proceeds are not included in consolidated sales.
The group is staying the course: “We are on the right track”
Looking ahead to the current year, the clothing supplier warned that conditions would continue to be difficult. “Rising costs, changing consumer behavior and geopolitical uncertainties continue to shape economic development,” the company said.
However, managing partner Markus Brinkmann confirmed the strategic course. “We continue to strengthen our brands, optimize our processes and drive forward international expansion,” he explained. “The realignment is bearing fruit in more and more areas. We are on the right path and will continue to pursue it consistently.”