Ex Lejaby French lingerie workers look set to shut shop

A co operative set up by skilled former workers at Lejaby lingerie looks set to close as angry staff blame banks for lack of funding.

Founder Muriel Pernin at "Les Atelières" lingerie plant, Villeurbanne, 4 March, 2014 AFP PHOTO/Jeff Pachoud

The co operative, in Villeurbanne near Lyon, was set up after more than half the staff of the upmarket Lejaby lingerie workshop were made redundant just over a year ago.

The layoffs attracted considerable publicity, as one of France’s best-known lingerie brands which relies on a highly skilled workforce of mostly women, became the latest victim of the economic downturn.

Micheline Rodriguez, who has worked for some of the most famous lingerie brands and trained seamstresses at the new co operative workshop, known as the “Atelières”, is disappointed.

“What a waste, we really believed in it, we had hope and we were duped because we were not supported.”

Yesterday Muriel Pernin, the boss of the workshop announced the liquidation of the company with its 30 workers, including five who had come from Lejaby.

“I don’t want us to battle on alone anymore, like a sort of symbol of French courage”, said Muriel Pernin “Does the state want the lingerie business to survive in France?” she asked angrily.

The co operative already has orders for up to 15,000 items but the bank has refused its request for a 600,000 financing package.

Ironically, Lejaby itself is no longer losing money and recently took on 13 new employees to “perpetuate the savoir-faire” in the highly specialised lingerie business.