Fashion company becomes majority shareholder in Münster shoe supplier
With the acquisition of Copenhagen Studios, the Rottendorf-based s.Oliver Group is expanding its brand portfolio. The deal closed this month. The founders of the brand based in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Julian and Johannes Rellecke, and the s.Oliver Group are old acquaintances. In 2003, the twin brothers founded the bag and accessories brand Liebeskind Berlin, which was acquired by the German fashion group in 2011. Copenhagen Studios is now taking the same path. The purchase price was not disclosed.
“With Copenhagen Studios, we welcome a brand that has so far been on a promising path not only in Germany but also internationally,” said Claus-Dietrich Lahrs, CEO of the s.Oliver Group, in a press release. He is looking forward to working with the Rellecke brothers. “Julian and Johannes have already shown with Liebeskind that they have a feel for successfully marketing new labels. We are convinced that they will also be successful with Copenhagen Studios.” The main aim of the takeover is to increase the pace of the growth phase. In total, the brand already has around 850 B2B customers, around half of them in Germany.
After selling their Liebeskind shares, Copenhagen Studios became the entrepreneurs' new project in 2017. Julian deals with the creative side, Johannes is responsible for the business. Both will remain in the company as part of the management team and will continue to manage the brand with a high degree of autonomy. The company’s headquarters remain in Münster.
Contrary to what the name suggests, Copenhagen Studios is not Danish, but German; The brand owes its name to the minimalist Scandinavian style, which is an important source of inspiration when developing new collections. The shoes are designed in the Danish capital and produced in Italy and Portugal. The brand operates three stores in Cologne, Münster and Bochum, as well as an outlet in Ochtrup.
