Purpose-driven retail group Outland Denim has international expansion firmly in its sights, as it brings Melbourne-founded Nobody Denim into its growing stable of brands and embarks on its third equity crowdfunding campaign.
Expressions of interest in the Birchal campaign opened on Tuesday morning for Outland, which was founded in 2011 by James and Erica Bartle. The founders will be seeking to add to the almost $900,000 raised in 2021 and $1.3 million raised in 2020.
On Monday, CEO and co-founder James Bartle emailed the company’s subscribers to share news of the Nobody addition and the new fundraising effort, declaring the Outland’s “new chapter begins today”.
That chapter now includes the Outland and Nobody denim brands, as well as its third-party manufacturing service Maeka Standard and its textile waste solution Huskland.
“Outland Denim is more than a brand; it’s an ecosystem of brands dedicated to creating positive social and environmental change,” said Bartle.
“Our model, designed to empower lives and protect the planet with every product we produce, is proven and unlike any other.”
This model is built on Outland’s founding mission to help survivors of human trafficking in Asia. The company hires women who have experienced trafficking, paying a fair wage while offering training and employment opportunities.
At the same time, Bartle said in his email, the company’s “state-of-the-art” production methods are geared towards conserving water, energy and chemical use, and its Huskland textile waste service is emerging as a new revenue stream.
Nobody Denim has been operating for 12 years longer than Outland, having been founded by prominent retailer John Condilis in 1999.
According to Bartle’s email, the premium denim brand has 60,000 loyal customers and recorded $5.6 million in revenue in the 2023 financial year. Nobody supplies its denim products to The Iconic and David Jones, as well as independent boutiques.
However, questions were asked about how long Nobody would continue its domestic manufacturing, after it reportedly fired 40 garment workers from its own production facility in August.
In a notice published on its website, Nobody Denim said by joining with Outland Denim Group, it is “forming a new Australian-owned house of denim and sustainable fashion”.
“This partnership amplifies our commitment to driving significant social and environmental change in an industry that desperately needs it,” the company added.
In his email, Bartle said Outland and Nobody are collectively stocked in more then 170 retail stores across Australia.
“The impact our businesses can make together is exponential,” he said of the deal.
“Together, we are not just making jeans; we are making a difference,” echoed Nobody Denim.
The “seamless integration and scaling” of the Nobody Denim brand within the Outland Denim Group will be one of the key drivers behind the company’s next phase of growth, including internationally, according to details shared on Outland’s Birchal profile.
“This marks a significant milestone as we expand our reach and mission to empower more women,” said the company.
SmartCompany has contacted Outland Denim for further comments.
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