Gerry Weber

Gerry Weber International AG is a German publicly traded company that operates in the fashion industry, specifically in women's outerwear, with headquarters located in Halle (Westf.). In 2021, the company generated revenue of 262.7 million euros and had an operating profit (EBITDA) of 28.8 million euros.

The company's roots date back to 1973 when it was founded as Hatex KG in Halle (Westf.) by Gerhard Weber and Udo Hardieck. Initially, the company produced and distributed women's trousers but quickly expanded into other areas of women's fashion. Over the years, the company outsourced some of its production to foreign contractors known as "intermediary masters."

In 1986, the company's founder, Gerhard Weber, trademarked the brand name "Gerry Weber," and the company gained popularity through its sponsorship of Steffi Graf. The company went public in 1989 and was renamed Gerry Weber International AG. In the same year, the company introduced the Taifun brand, and in 1994, it added Samoon for women's clothing in plus sizes. The company continued to move its production to other countries, and in 2000, it began licensing the Gerry Weber brand for shoes, eyewear, fragrances, bags, and jewelry.

In 2006, the company created a men's collection under the Gerry Weber Men brand, which was initially licensed and later produced in-house. However, the collection was discontinued in 2009. In 2011, Gerry Weber acquired the Austrian fashion company Don Gil, and in 2015, it acquired Hallhuber with the approval of the Federal Cartel Office.

In 2016, due to financial reasons, the company closed 103 stores, two-thirds of which were in Germany. The same year, Gerry Weber launched a new women's fashion brand called "talkabout," which was sold through selected partners rather than the company's own stores. In 2019, Gerry Weber International AG filed for insolvency in self-administration with approximately 580 employees. The company's subsidiaries, such as Hallhuber, were not affected. The company restructured, closing 120 Gerry Weber stores in Germany by the end of 2021, and presented an insolvency plan to its creditors in 2019, which was approved. The company also sold its logistics center to Walbusch Group in March 2021.