A Chanel representative has announced that the French fashion brand has purchased the bulk of the Italian footwear manufacturer Grey Mer. Seventy per cent of the shares are being acquired, while the founding Alessandri family owns the remaining thirty per cent, according to the Milan-based tabloid MFF.
Established in San Mauro Pascoli in 1980 by Luciano Alessandri, Grey Mer has been manufacturing shoes for Chanel’s Studio collections for 13 years. The collaboration between Grey Mer and Chanel is a calculated step to increase the French design house’s manufacturing capabilities.
In order to satisfy the needs of its customers, Grey Mer has continuously innovated and gained extraordinary skills since Luciano Alessandri founded the company some 45 years ago. Chanel said it wished to write a new chapter in its history by investing more actively with this reliable partner to safeguard production capacity.
Recently, Chanel has made investments in a number of businesses, including Ballin, a shoe producer. In 2024, the founders of the design firm made an investment in The Row, an American fashion brand. Chanel has acquired a 20% share in Leo France SpA, a Florentine brand that specialises in making metal accessories and jewellery.
