La Perla
The Italian designer Ada Masotti established the company in 1954. Operating from a tiny workshop in Bologna, a city famous for its highly developed textile industry, Masotti simply used top quality fabrics to create exclusive and select underwear focussing initially on corsetry. She intimately appreciated and demonstrated an uncanny anticipation of women's desires and body shape, designing a collection of lingerie that flawlessly complemented Christian Dior's "New Look", a major fashion trend of the time.La Perla launched its Malizia collection in the 80s, and followed this with a raunchy line under the Marvel brand. The company's success in the underwear market allowed Gruppo La Perla to diversify, and the company turned its sights
to swimwear and perfume. Marketed as La Perla Mare, its luxury swimwear, and outerwear collections carrying the label Ritmo di Perla were all made in three manufacturing factories in Bologna, of which each specialised in one line, with The La Perla fragrance being produced under license in Parma.
In cities famous for their fashionable shopping districts Gruppa La Perla, in the 90s, opened dedicated boutiques in Paris, London, New York, Venice, Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
