Orlebar Brown receives 8 million pound investment

Luxury swimwear and resort brand Orlebar Brown has received an 8 million pound investment from private equity firm Piper, to help “expand its presence in the US and Europe”. The upmarket swimwear retailer, best known for its menswear designs

worn by celebrities including Hugh Jackman, has sold off a “significant” minority stake to the investment firm, which has backed and helped turn around brands including clothing retailer Boden.

The 8 million pound growth capital will be used to help the British retailer expand its presences in the United States, which currently represents nearly 30 percent of its sales, as well as Europe, and to improve its online marketing across the world.

Piper invests in luxury British brand Orlebar Brown

Commenting on the investment, co-founder Adam Brown said: “We are very excited about the partnership we have with Piper. I am delighted to be working with partners who share the same values and ambitions as ourselves, and the team’s extensive experience and knowledge of growing consumer brands will help us accelerate our growth and simultaneously protect our DNA.

“Piper has worked hard to complete the deal in six weeks, so that the business wasn’t distracted at its key selling time, and is committed to building Orlebar Brown into a globally recognised British luxury fashion business.”

Peter Kemp-Welch, of Piper, added: “We have followed the success of Orlebar Brown from a very early stage, and can see that the brand has developed a strong handwriting which appeals to a wide range of men across the world. We can see myriad growth opportunities for Orlebar Brown, especially the potential to expand its clothing range to satisfy demand for a broader product offering, as well as the chance to grow the US business which already represents nearly 30% of sales.”

Founded in 2007, by Brown and Julia Simpson-Orlebar, the fashion label was set up to fill a gap in the market by providing a more tailored approach to beach and swim shorts for men, since then the brand has evolving into offering a full range of holiday wear for men, as well as debut capsule collection for women.

Originally launched online, the business has developed into a multi-channel brand, and has three standalone boutiques and distributes to more 38 countries and is present in department stores such as Selfridges, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barneys.

Private investment firm Venrex and luxury entrepreneur John Ayton, both early investors in the company, will continue to remain involved in the business.