ABOUT THE BRAND
20 years after its creation, Maison Close is officially becoming SCANDALE on 22nd July 2026.
This evolution marks the culmination of a major strategic milestone initiated by the acquisition of
SCANDALE; an iconic French house founded in 1932. Through this move, Maison Close brings
together a century of French heritage and twenty years of contemporary development under a
single name.
Founded in 2006, Maison Close established itself as one of the most distinctive names in French
lingerie. Initially developed for the world of high-end lingerie, the brand has progressively expanded
its territory into ready-to-wear, swimwear, accessories and a broader lifestyle universe. Its
contemporary approach to intimacy, its strong visual identity and its singular vision of glamour has
allowed Maison Close to win a loyal clientele in France and internationally.
From Kate Moss to Madonna, to the album cover of Miley Cyrus or the fluorescent Maison Close
signature beneath Rosalía’s skirts at the BRIT Awards, the brand has embedded itself in the fashion
imagination and transcended the lingerie space, becoming an editorial piece. Highly visual, the
brand’s creations have attracted stylists and photographers with their photogenic power.
Based in Marseille, Maison Close is targeting a turnover of €20 million in 2026 and benefits from
a strong international presence. The United States is its primary market, ahead of France, Germany,
the United Kingdom and Italy. Led by Nicolas Busnel, President and Creative Director, alongside
Caroline Bour, Chief Executive Officer, the house is pursuing an ambitious growth phase. The
acquisition of SCANDALE is part of this trajectory: accelerating its international reach by building on
one of the most iconic houses in the history of French lingerie.
Founded in 1932 by Robert Perrier, between Lyon, the historic cradle of silk, and Paris, the capital
of haute couture, SCANDALE was born from a visionary conviction: that material can be an
instrument of freedom. A supplier of exceptional silks to Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent,
Balenciaga, Jean Patou and Givenchy, Perrier introduced synthetic fabrics into French haute
couture before dedicating them to a more intimate territory: lingerie. Long before Lycra, Robert
Perrier transformed liquid latex into fibre and gave birth to the first modern elasticated girdle,
freeing the silhouette from the constraints of corsetry and making SCANDALE the symbol of a
more supple, lighter, freer femininity.
Since its founding, the house has understood that innovation must be accompanied by a powerful
image. Red became a manifesto, the leg became an emblem, the name became an elegant
provocation. René Gruau designed the house’s iconic logo, giving it exceptional visual power,
extended by artists Pierre Couronne, Diaz and Jean Jacquelin through campaigns deployed across
France and the United States. Lingerie stepped out of the shadows to be displayed, theatricalised
and to assert its own allure.
Over decades, SCANDALE established itself as a unique French house at the crossroads of
innovation, creation and luxury. Following its acquisition by the Hop Lun group and Halle Berry’s
entry into its capital in 2014 to accelerate its development in North America, the brand retained a
unique place in the history of lingerie.
On 27th October 2025, Nicolas Busnel, Founder and Creative Director of Maison Close, acquired
SCANDALE from Erik Ryd with the intention of preserving one of the most acclaimed brands in
French lingerie and ensuring the transmission of its heritage.
