The Berlin online retailer Zalando has acquired a majority stake in Highsnobiety.
Highsnobiety will “act as a strategic and creative advisor and strengthen Zalando in the development of new inspiring areas and formats on the platform,” the companies announced on Monday. The acquisition aims to strengthen the shopping experience and make the online presence more exciting and appealing to customers and brands. In return, the Berlin streetwear platform, which also operates its own online shop, can draw on the know-how of the e-commerce giant.
“Both our companies share a passion for building strong brand partnerships and inspiring people with a brand’s products and stories,” said David Schneider, Founder and Co-CEO of Zalando. “The partnership with Highsnobiety brings us closer to our goal of offering our customers the best and most appealing – but also the most convenient – shopping experience. I look forward to realizing our shared vision and shaping the future of fashion content in retail together.”
Highsnobiety was founded in 2005 by David Fischer is Berlin. What started as a blog fusing streetwear and high-end luxury fashion has grown into a global media platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, Milan and Amsterdam. However, the platform is not only a trendsetter in the field of streetwear – with hip collaborations and exciting pop-up concepts such as at Art Basel Miami – but also as a creative agency ‘HS+’ in the areas of digital media, print, events and strategic cooperations. In this way, it offers brands the opportunity to get in touch with the young target group of Highsnobiety – an opportunity that Zalando has now seen for itself.
Highsnobiety remains active as an independent platform
But even with the majority stake, Highsnobiety will retain its editorial autonomy and the other areas such as publishing and agency work will remain independent. Just as nothing should change at the top of the company. David Fischer and Jürgen Hopfgartner remain Highsnobiety managing directors.
“Highsnobiety has mastered the art of turning stories into products and products into stories. I am very much looking forward to bringing our expertise to Zalando and reshaping the future of inspiration and shopping together,” says Fischer. “Likewise, I look forward to leveraging Zalando’s expertise in scaling e-commerce platforms and taking my life’s work to the next level.”
The parties involved have agreed not to disclose any financial details. As the founder, Fischer will hold a minority stake in the company, according to Berlin sources.