BasicNet bought Woolrich Europe, then told 139 workers to move to Turin or quit

Woolrich, the American outdoor label founded in 1830, was rebuilt in Europe by its Bologna licensee WP Lavori in Corso, which took control in 2016 and passed the majority to the private equity fund L-Gam in September 2018. In mid-November 2025 BasicNet — the Turin group behind Kappa, K-Way, Superga and Sebago — bought the Woolrich brand for Europe and 100% of Woolrich Europe from L-Gam for €90 million.

Within weeks the new owner announced the closure of the Bologna and Milan offices and a mass transfer of all 139 office workers — 109 in Bologna, 30 in Milan — to BasicNet's Turin headquarters. Out of 229 employees, only 90 store staff were excluded. The alternative to moving was resigning, which under Italian law would have meant no Naspi unemployment benefit.

Unions called it a disguised collective dismissal — 'prendere o lasciare', take it or leave it — and opened a hot winter: a permanent picket at the Bologna gates, an overtime ban and strikes. The mayor of Bologna asked the company to stop; the Emilia-Romagna region called the unilateral mass transfers unacceptable and convened mediation, warning they amounted to masked layoffs.

On 30 January 2026 BasicNet retreated. The ultimatum was replaced by three options: transfer to Turin with heavy incentives, remain in Bologna or Milan until the end of March 2027, or leave voluntarily with a package. The consolidation will still happen — but negotiated, slower, and with a bill attached.