Limoges the same as Vigevano. The porcelain city was for long also the city of shoes. But Erel now risks of going bankrupt: one of the last footwear plants left, after 77 years, is being liquidated. The brand, specialized in the production of leather home shoes, has seen an ownership change in 2016 but after the pandemic entered a crisis. But it’s not over yet: on April 24th a hearing will be held at the local court to meet potential buyers.
Erel is risking bankruptcy
Erel was founded in 1947 by René Leriche. After some challenges, the footwear company shifted owner in 2016 to Élodie Champaloux, ex JM Weston, and uncle Dominique Labrousse. Newspaper Le Populaire highlights how Erel was one of the last companies capable of creating products with the “American stitching” technique (sole stitched the opposite way and manually inverted). Champaloux left the company in 2018 due to personal reasons and Labrousse, who had retired at the time, was forced to take over the leadership role. The pandemic further worsened the company’s difficulties, as they protracted until the start of 2024. Sales down and costs up have made Erel unable to keep up with payments. The company is being liquidated. While in good times it had 70 employees, it now only has 13.
Leather know-how
“All the shoes are made with calf or goat hides from Saint-Junien, Charente o Graulhet. Sometimes the materials were bought in Spain or Italy to ensure quality levels”, reads a website selling Erel’s products. A know-how built over 77 years now risks to disappear. It would be another heavy hit for the city of JM Weston and some tanneries located there to service the local footwear segment. But there is one last hope: a white knight. A court hearing will be held on April 24th at the local commercial courthouse to meet potential buyers.
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