Dive Brief:
- DTC brand Arne is bringing its U.K.-based minimalist fashions to the U.S. market.
- The five-year-old clothing, footwear and accessories brand for men, women and kids launched its U.S. website Thursday with plans to open brick-and-mortar stores in Los Angeles and New York, according to a company press release.
- Arne has cultivated a “devoted following” in the UK and garnered celebrity interest, which has helped fuel its growth, the company said in its announcement.
Dive Insight:
Founded in 2018 by brothers Reece and Ryan Broadhurst, Arne focuses on creating minimalist silhouettes at a moderate price point.
Arne launched its footwear collection in May 2020 after searching across Asia and Europe for the right suppliers. The brand’s styles are all handcrafted in Portugal, using only genuine Italian suede and leathers.
The brand, which is headquartered in Warrington, England, has been growing steadily in the U.K., where the company has periodically opened pop-up shops in locations such as Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. One recent pop-up in Manchester was in the shape of a large mobile container placed just outside the Spinningfields area.
As the brand continues to grow, the founders felt the timing was right for the brand to enter the competitive U.S. market. The company is looking to Los Angeles and New York to open brick-and-mortar stores. More pop-up locations are also in the works.
"From day one, we were clear on Arne’s mission — providing consumers with accessible, high-quality, and well-designed everyday apparel essentials," Reece Broadhurst said in a statement. "We saw a unique opportunity to connect with individuals who were searching for those missing, core pieces in their wardrobes, and to listen to their feedback, wants, and needs to fill a void within the market. These consumer insights have been transformative for our brand, and as we introduce Arne to a new audience as influential as U.S. consumers, we know it will only help us continue to grow."
In the U.S., Arne has entered a market many times the size of the U.K. The U.S. footwear market alone produced more than $78 billion in revenue in 2021, according to the analytics firm Statista. Revenue for the footwear industry in the U.S. in 2022 was about $86 billion, followed by China ($79 billion), India ($24 billion) and the U.K. ($15.5 billion).
While much of the market share for athletic footwear in the U.S. is taken by larger companies like Nike and Adidas, there remains opportunities for smaller, up-and-coming brands, including brands that bridge the gap between pure athletic and casual sport.
“Because the big brands are struggling, the overall market has not been good. But small brands are getting growth and taking share,” said Matt Powell, adviser at Spurwink River. “All of the energy in the market is around smaller brands.”
