New record sales in license business - bugatti Holding performs well in 2025

"Overall weak demand put the clothing industry under significant pressure in 2025. Despite this reluctance to buy, our group of companies proved stable. We have set an important course that is now taking effect. The current incoming orders for 2026 are developing positively for the Group and give us confidence," emphasizes Julius Brinkmann, Managing Partner.

 

The Group also made targeted investments in its future viability in 2025. The focus was on the digitalization of processes and systems, the expansion of e-commerce and the web store, investments in existing buildings and the expansion of photovoltaics. The strategic realignment of the brands was also driven forward.

 

 

Export

The Group's export turnover has continued to rise. In the past financial year, the Group's export share amounted to 50.9% (2024: 47.6%). The most important export markets were Austria, Italy, the Benelux countries, the UK and Ireland.

 

 

 

Employees

bugatti Holding Brinkmann employs a total of 557 people, 210 of whom work at the headquarters in Herford.

 

 

bugatti

The realignment of the bugatti brand is progressing consistently: the new brand vision has been implemented across all areas of marketing and product development since 2025. "We are on the right track. With our clearly sharpened brand image, we are reaching our target groups much more precisely and effectively," explains Julius Brinkmann. The aim of the brand building strategy currently being implemented is to further modernize bugatti under the leadership of Chief Brand & Commercial Officer Florian Wortmann and establish it as a leading global brand. It is pleasing to note that the label's realignment is also inspiring cross-generational target groups. The market response and sales expectations for the fall/winter 2026 season are positive.

The brand's export share rose to 61.4% in 2025 (2024: 60.7%). The most important export markets include Austria, Italy, the Benelux countries, Ireland and the UK. Austria and Belgium were particularly positive.

Womenswear recorded a pleasing development and will be further expanded in 2026, particularly in the key account area. Internationally, bugatti is represented by 42 stores and around 400 retail spaces. In Germany, bugatti has 12 own and 6 franchise stores. A new store was opened in Passau in 2025. The brand also has around 250 retail spaces in Germany. bugatti will become much more visible in stores this year. 35 pop-up spaces are being implemented for the spring/summer 2026 season. The number of outlets in Germany is 8.

 

 

Licenses bugatti

The license business reflects the strength of the bugatti brand. It once again proved to be a growth driver with record sales. The 13 bugatti license partners generated sales of around 166 million euros in 2025, an increase of 7% on the previous year. The sales focus remains on the EU countries and the USA. In the course of internationalization with licenses, new markets are being developed in a targeted manner. With Australia and New Zealand as well as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, new regions for the licensed products bags, leather goods and luggage will be added in 2026. Other target markets for various product categories are India, China, Japan, South Korea and the countries of Central and South America.

 

 

Dresser

Dressler Bekleidungswerke, a manufacturer of premium to luxury menswear with the core product groups of suits and jackets, successfully continued to implement its strategic measures in the 2025 financial year and provided important impetus for sustainable growth. The company enjoyed stable development and benefited in particular from the consistent further development of the brand, product and sales.

A key driver of this positive development was the clear positioning in the modern premium and luxury segment as well as the expansion of the product groups, which met with a great response from retailers. The collections presented over the course of the year impressively underlined the modernization of the brand and strengthened the perception of Dressler as a contemporary menswear specialist.

At the same time, sales and brand activities were further intensified. Innovative formats such as pop-up spaces and targeted measures for international expansion helped to tap into new customer groups and strengthen the brand's presence in the long term. Thomas Jaeger has been at the helm of the menswear specialist since the beginning of 2025. Under his leadership, Dressler set important milestones for further expansion in 2025 and at the same time consolidated the basis for future growth.

 

 

Wilvorst

Wilvorst Herrenmoden GmbH was unable to fully achieve its sales targets in the 2025 financial year. Nevertheless, the annual result improved significantly compared to the previous year. This was due to targeted measures to improve margins and consistent cost management. Wilvorst is focusing on new growth impetus for the current year. The focus is on product innovations and the expansion of service, quality and customer orientation. At the same time, the brand strategy will be sharpened and synergies within the Group will be exploited in order to position the profiles of the individual brands more clearly and tap into new target groups. With a view to 2026, the new management team of Frank Ullrich-Cattien and Stefan Kohlmann will push ahead with strategic development. The focus will be on stronger brand profiling, internationalization and the targeted expansion of the festive and occasion wear segment.

Among other things, the European Bridal Week in Essen and the expansion of social media activities will provide important impetus to further increase the brand's presence and reach. Wilvorst is thus consistently pursuing the goal of sustainable and profitable growth.

 

 

Pikeur

Pikeur Reitmoden looks back on a challenging financial year 2025. The reluctance of riders and horse owners to buy has been clearly noticeable as a result of extreme cost increases - particularly in husbandry, competition sport and veterinary care. While Pikeur was down on the previous year in the equestrian fashion segment as a result, Eskadron was able to confirm the high level of the previous year. At the same time, important strategic milestones were set, top international athletes such as Christian Kukuk and Yuri Mansur joined the Pikeur family and a clear growth path was defined with the "Way to Olympia 2032" agenda. "We are also officially equipping the Swedish national equestrian teams from this year," adds Managing Partner Markus Brinkmann. This means that 2025 forms a solid starting point for further developing the brands internationally with great dynamism and a clear vision.

 

 

Outlook

The market environment remains challenging. Rising costs, changing consumer behavior and geopolitical uncertainties continue to shape economic development. The Group is meeting these challenges with a clear strategic focus. "We are continuing to strengthen our brands, optimize our processes and drive forward our international expansion. The realignment is bearing fruit in more and more areas. We are on the right path and will continue to pursue it consistently," emphasizes Markus Brinkmann.

 

 

Herford, 07.06.2026

 

 

Zhe group of companies includes: bugatti GmbH (Herford), bugatti Retail GmbH (Herford), Dressler Bekleidungswerke Brinkmann GmbH & Co. KG (Großostheim), Wilvorst Herrenmoden GmbH (Northeim), Pikeur Reitmoden Brinkmann GmbH & Co. KG (Werther). The managing partners of bugatti Holding Brinkmann are the brothers Wolfgang Brinkmann (75) and Klaus Brinkmann (73) in the second generation and their sons Markus Brinkmann (45) and Julius Brinkmann (42) in the third generation.

 

 

Press contact:

bugatti Holding Brinkmann

Brinkmann GmbH & Co KG

Tanja Bobel

Hansastr. 55

32049 Herford

Germany

E-mail: t.bobel@bugatti.de

Tel: 05221 - 884-127/Mobile: 0160 707 8567