Wolf & Badger acquires Boticca

London-based designer independent Wolf & Badger has acquired online accessories marketplace Boticca for an undisclosed sum.

Bottica.com will become part of the Wolf & Badger brand and platform with immediate effect, as the retailer looks to create a “world-class omni-channel retailer for independent designers and brands”.

The business will continue to be led by Wolf & Badger’s co-founders, George Graham, who is chief executive, and his brother Henry, who serves as creative director. Bottica chief executive Kiyan Foroughi, who founded the marketplace in 2010, will remain as an advisor to the business, while a number of Botticca’s staff will move across as part of the merger.

The new combined business will continue to operate out of the two Wolf & Badger stores in London, in Notting Hill and on Dover Street, and at wolfandbadger.com, and will work with more than 600 individually selected independent brands from around the world.

This acquisition for Wolf & Badger is part of its strategy to strengthen its existing online offering, as well as further extend its global reach as it looks to international markets, including the possibility of opening a store in the US and other international cities.

Wolf & Badger merges with Bottica to create a “world-class omni-channel retailer”

Commenting on the acquisition, Wolf & Badger’s George Graham said: "We have long shared a vision to provide independent brands with the opportunity to gain the global reach and scale previously reserved for only for the largest and best capitalised luxury fashion brands.

“This merger will enable us to introduce many more customers globally to the unique and wonderful collections that are produced by the world’s most talented designers.”

Foroughi added:”As the lines of commerce between the offline and online worlds blur, omnichannel retailing is where the industry is heading to. Combining Boticca’s strength in the online world with Wolf & Badger’s established offline presence is a natural step in this evolution.”

Bottica, the content-led curated marketplace, went through a rebrand last year as it looked to continue to highlight its unique offering of connection consumers with independent accessory designers. It represents more than 300 accessories designers from 40 countries on its website, which will all move over to the new merged platform.

Wolf & Badger was established in 2009 and has become known for supporting independent fashion designers with its fully serviced retail space offering, via its boutiques and website.

Images: Wolf & Badger website and store