Maus Frères SA

Maus Frères SA is a Swiss-based retail holding group that owns and operates a portfolio of apparel and lifestyle brands. Founded in 1902, the company has grown from a regional department store operator into a global fashion group with distribution across Europe, North America, and Asia.

The group follows a license-heavy model, often outsourcing production and distribution to regional partners while retaining control over brand strategy and identity. This structure has historically exposed Maus Frères to ethical and political risks, including licensing deals with Delta Galil Industries—an Israeli textile company that manufactures in illegal West Bank settlements. While no current contracts have been publicly confirmed, past arrangements underscore the group’s entanglement in supply chains tied to apartheid-linked economies.

As with other multinational fashion groups, Maus Frères’ operations raise broader concerns around transparency, labour conditions, and environmental impact within its sourcing networks. Its global scale and brand visibility ensure that decisions made at the parent level ripple through everyday consumer purchases across its portfolio.