Borsalino Declares Bankruptcy: End of an Italian Icon

The historic Italian hatmaker Borsalino has been declared bankrupt by a court in Alessandria, rejecting a restructuring proposal from Haeres Equita srl, owned by Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Camperio. The decision affects 135 workers at the Spinetta Marengo factory. Founded by Giuseppe Borsalino in the 19th century after his apprenticeship in Paris, the brand became synonymous with elegance, appearing in classic films like Casablanca (on Humphrey Bogart) and Breathless (on Jean Seberg). A special model designed for Marcello Mastroianni in 8½ also captivated Robert Redford. Borsalino even ventured into contemporary art, with Albanian artist Anila Rubiku using 60 felt hats in an installation at the 54th Venice Biennale to tell immigration stories through embroidery. The company had recently produced a 160-piece commemorative edition for its 160th anniversary. The future of the brand now depends on a potential buyer.