Orsay

Orsay is a women's fashion brand based in Willstätt, Baden-Württemberg. Until 2022, Orsay GmbH was the main company of an international, vertically organized fast-fashion retail chain. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chain was sold to the Gordon Brothers investment company, and its own international branch network was dissolved. Orsay had over 720 stores worldwide with more than 5000 employees. Currently, Orsay is still active as a franchise provider and distributes its products through wholesale and online channels. Orsay was founded in 1975 by the French Mulliez Group, and by 1989, it had expanded to 100 stores in Germany. Orsay quickly became known for its quick response time, updating its collections every two weeks, a strategy known as "fast fashion". Orsay sold mostly in-house brands, as well as those from producers in Europe and North Africa. In 1998, Orsay launched an online store, and in the same year, it also introduced a cosmetics line called O-Spirit. Orsay expanded across Europe, including in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. In the following years, Orsay expanded its presence in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. In 2005, Orsay shifted its style to target young women rather than teenagers, and it gradually withdrew from Benelux, France, Italy, and Denmark. In 2008, the company laid off 250 people in Willstätt and gradually moved its logistics operations to Breslau. Despite declining sales in Germany, Orsay remained profitable and continued to expand in Eastern Europe. Matthias Klein replaced Jean-Marc Willer as CEO in 2010, and the company has since focused on franchising and online sales.