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Bally’s hand-crafted shoes have a global reputation for quality <\/p>\n
Martin Ruetschi \/ Keystone <\/p>\n
The iconic Swiss shoe brand Bally is in deep crisis. If the company ultimately goes bankrupt, its significant historic collection is also at risk. Can 40,000 shoes from the Bally archive be saved?\n<\/p>\n
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August 21, 2026 – 08:38\n<\/p>\n
At the train station in Sch\u00f6nenwerd, in the canton of Solothurn, northwest Switzerland, stands a huge outlet centre. Beyond that, there isn\u2019t much: small housing estates for workers, modern apartment buildings, and a Coop supermarket. Just over 5,000 people live here \u2013 a typical suburban commuter town.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s usually not much going on here, but when it comes to the impending bankruptcy of Bally, this is the place to come to learn something.<\/p>\n
On the site of a former Bally factory, in building 7, the Ballyana Foundation has set up an exhibition space. Displayed here are a sole-stitching machine from 1870, colourful Bally advertising posters hanging on the walls, and a small selection from the extensive Bally archive.<\/p>\n
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Bally keeps in step with the times <\/p>\n
This content was published on <\/p>\n
Oct 12, 2019 <\/p>\n
A region in northern Switzerland lived and worked in harmony with the Bally shoe factory. The rest as they say is history. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Read more: Bally keeps in step with the times The owners and staff have collected a great deal, says Philipp Abegg, foundation president and himself a descendant of the Bally family: letters, company magazines, photographs, films, and of course, shoes. But these are missing from the exhibition.<\/p>\n Around 40,000 pairs of exclusive Bally shoes are stored right next door. Ladies\u2019 ankle boots with the famous elastic band from 1875 or snakeskin pumps from 1928 are carefully arranged in glass cabinets, completely isolated from the outside world.<\/p>\n Bally future uncertain<\/p>\n The dedicated archivist is not allowed to give the media more information. The valuable collection and extensive archive are company property. But the future of the heavily indebted shoe store is uncertain.<\/p>\n In the 1970s, Bally experienced countless identity crises. CEOs came and went, and the company alternately positioned itself as a luxury brand and a streetwear label. The only constant was its new shoe collections, which appeared year after year.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Culture\n <\/p>\n The final interview with Swiss textile designer Erich Biehle: \u2018Paris was the world!\u2019 <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Aug 26, 2024 <\/p>\n Swiss textile designer Erich Biehle died in June aged 83. Just before his death he spoke to SWI swissinfo.ch and reflected on his career and life. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: The final interview with Swiss textile designer Erich Biehle: \u2018Paris was the world!\u2019 According to Abegg, the Bally company archive is one of the \u201clargest and most beautiful industrial history collections in central Europe.\u201d The foundation has established a financial \u201cwar chest\u201d to ensure that funding for the archive is available if needed.<\/p>\n The canton of Solothurn has also launched a rescue operation by placing the collection under protection for a year. During this period the shoes cannot be moved or sold. This is made possible by a law unique to Solothurn that protects movable cultural assets such as archives.<\/p>\n Abegg, a lawyer, is in favour of establishing a new foundation run by both the canton and the company. Bally would retain ownership of the trademark and design rights, with the archive and shoe collection being transferred to the foundation.<\/p>\n Preserving a legacy<\/p>\n The intention is to share responsibility for the company\u2019s legacy and a slice of Swiss industrial history. \u201cAs an industrial museum, we have not yet managed to achieve the status of a recognised cultural asset. We lack the support of the federal authorities and the public,\u201d said Abegg.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n The luxury industry looks to private equity for a reboot\u00a0 <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Aug 16, 2024 <\/p>\n The recent purchase of Swiss shoe brand Bally by American investment firm Regent is a symbol of the acquisition and consolidation trend in the luxury industry. <\/p>\n
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