BC Brands Acquires Bandier, Carbon38 in Women’s Activewear Play
Popular women’s activewear brand Bandier had been looking for a buyer late last year amid supply chain challenges
A consortium of investors has acquired Bandier and Carbon38 in a move meant to reinvigorate the activewear space.
Formerly plagued with supply chain challenges, Bandier had been actively seeking a buyer as recently as last month for its assets, inventory, intellectual property and certain commercial real estate leases.
BC Brands, led by CEO Kate Nadolny, views the union of Bandier and Carbon38 brands as marking the start of an exciting chapter in activewear. Nadolny previously served as Bandier’s CEO.
“We are fueled by a shared passion for excellence and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what activewear can be,” Nadolny said. “Our journey together is just starting, and we’re eager to unveil the incredible possibilities that lie ahead.”
Looking ahead, BC Brands plans to expand both retail and wholesale channels across domestic and international markets.
Along with its e-commerce footprint, Bandier operates brick-and-mortar retail shops in hot spots, including New York City, Southampton, New York, Dallas and Los Angeles.
Carbon38’s e-commerce shop offers luxury merchandise under its proprietary label in addition to third-party activewear brands, such as Nike, Adidas by Stella McCartney and Cynthia Rowley.
BC Brands is supported by investment firm Restore Capital and BNF Capital’s Annvest, according to a LinkedIn post by Hilco Global, Restore Capital’s operating company.
“Despite operating as a unified organization internally, both brands will maintain their independent identities when engaging with consumers,” the post read. “This integration aims to enhance operational efficiency and scale for the two brands, enabling them to explore potential acquisitions in an industry poised for consolidation.”
While BC Brands plans to continue cornering the market on women’s activewear, other brands, such as Lululemon, Rhone and Ten Thousand, are looking to target male consumers. Lululemon recently announced it would boost its brand awareness this year, accompanied by the launch of a new men’s footwear line.
