After 20 years, Nicolas Topiol leaves Christian Lacroix; STL takes over

Nicolas Topiol is stepping down as CEO of Christian Lacroix after nearly 20 years of leadership. He confirmed his departure in a LinkedIn post, as first reported by WWD. The transition marks the completion of a planned handover to Sociedad Textil Lonia (STL), the Galician company behind CH Carolina Herrera and Purificación García. STL, in which Puig holds a 25% stake, became Christian Lacroix’s majority shareholder in January 2025.

“When I took over Christian Lacroix in 2005, many already saw it as a relic,” Nicolas Topiol wrote in his LinkedIn farewell. “But we brought it back to relevance—honoring its heritage while shaping its future.” He highlighted the brand’s expansion into licensing, lifestyle categories, and retail, all without compromising its core identity.

Topiol said he departs “with pride,” describing Christian Lacroix as “strong, resilient, profitable, desirable, and protected.” He emphasized that the brand had remained “unshakable” despite economic downturns, changes in ownership, and shifting business strategies.

Moving forward, Topiol will focus on his role as president of Bechert Corporation, a private consulting firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Over nearly 20 years, he helped steer Christian Lacroix through dramatic evolution. “We weathered crises, rebuilt the foundation, restructured operations, and led a successful handover,” he said, reflecting on his tenure.

Christian Lacroix was founded in 1987 by its namesake designer in partnership with LVMH, while Lacroix was still creative director at Jean Patou. The brand quickly gained fame for its bold, baroque aesthetic—richly influenced by Lacroix’s hometown of Arles, with Spanish flourishes, vivid colors, and theatrical silhouettes.

In 2005, LVMH sold the label to U.S.-based travel retail group Falic. The 2009 financial crisis severely impacted the business, pushing it into receivership. Though the brand avoided liquidation, it shuttered its couture and ready-to-wear operations and pivoted to a licensing-based model. That same year, Christian Lacroix exited the house to pursue theatrical costume design for opera and stage.