Activewear brand Acai raises £350k funding to support growth

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 27, 2019

Acai Activewear, a fast-growing Cheshire-based clothing brand, has raised £350,000 to expand its product range and meet rising demand.

The funding round was led by Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Angels), the business angel network.

Started in 2016 by husband and wife team Joe and Kasia Bromley, the business now has a mailing list of over 30,000 and a 36% repeat business rate. 

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Its skinny trousers, designed for outdoor activities with moisture wicking and waterproof fabrics, have proved popular with audiences ranging from dog walkers and horse riders to animal workers and other professionals.

Business has been booming for the brand, which is on course to double turnover to over £1 million this year.

Kasia Bromley, who studied fashion at Edinburgh College of Art and worked at couture houses including Alexander McQueen, said: “Our customers tell us there are no other trousers like ours on the market. We aim to empower women and encourage them to spend more time outdoors by providing the gear for them to do so. The ‘trail to the street’ look means they can walk up a mountain but still look stylish in the pub afterwards.

“The funding will allow us to offer a wider range of styles and products and boost our stock levels, allowing us to keep abreast of the growing demand and fulfil orders more rapidly. Our mission is to become a global brand and make Acai the Levi’s of the women’s outdoor apparel market.”

David Smith of DSW Angels added: “Acai is a niche product with loyal and growing customer base and incredibly talented founders. The company has already shown excellent traction on limited investment – considerably better than comparable start-ups we benchmarked – and is on target to double revenue this year. Our investment will turbo-charge its growth.”