Royal corsetiere Rigby & Peller sold to Van de Velde for £8m

The Kenton family, owners of the upmarket lingerie business Rigby & Peller, have sold the 87% of their company to their main provider, Belgian Van de Velde. June Kenton, first executive of the British corsetiere firm, which has catered to the

likes of the Royal Family, Lady Gaga or Scarlet Johansson, just to mention a few, has sold a majority stake in her upmarket lingerie business Rigby & Peller to her biggest supplier.

Van de Velde is a Belgian company that designs and manufactures lingerie. It is responsible for the Prima Donna and Marie Jo brands sold in R&P's shops. Mrs Kenton describes Van de Velde as a "family orientated company" and says they share the same "values and vision". Her Belgian partners "appreciate the value of heritage".

According to Mrs Kenton the family will still have a say in its running, retaining a 13 per cent stake and Mrs Kenton, 75, will continue to be closely involved in the business, which in addition to its royal backing has started to attract entertainment royalty, notably Lady Gaga. Besides, Mrs Kenton and her son David will remain on the board of directors.

June Kenton, who after more than 50 years in the brassiere business says she can judge a woman's bust size just by looking at her, said it was the right time to sell as the company needed a partner to fulfil its ambitions for growth. However, both she and her son will continue to have a say in its future: "It will be business as usual," said the 75 year-old, adding: "When we open new stores I'll be running around doing fittings, I'll be flying all over the world for them."

Ignace van Dooselare, Van de Velde's chief executive, said: "It is our intention to work closely with both the Kenton family and the existing management team, to invest and grow Rigby & Peller both in the UK and internationally."

Mrs Kenton and husband Harold bought the firm back in 1982 for £20,000. Last year the business, whose products are priced between £50 and £200 for a bespoke bra, generated sales of £10m.