JAK gets investment from MJKD as it targets European, US growth

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 15, 2023

JAK has finalised a seed investment from Maisons Julien and Kelly Dassault (MJKD), which has invested in the high-end sneaker brand that’s currently targeting growth in key markets including the UK, Germany and France.

The Portuguese sneakers brand will use the investment to scale internationally via physical stores in European capitals. It will also consolidate its team in Lisbon, Portugal, and “globally develop the brand experience with exclusive store designs”. And it plans to boost its online presence in “key European markets where JAK holds a growing market share”.

Currently, 23% of its production heads to the UK with Germany on 13%. But as well as European markets, the US will be a major target with that country already representing 25% of its exports.

It said MJKD, which specialises in seed rounds, will “bring in expertise in strategy, finance, marketing and communication”. 

JAK’s “commitment to sustainability” will be a key growth pillar via the development of a vegan line of products following its first vegan launched last year that used apple leather.

The label was founded in 2014 by Isabel Henriques da Silva and José Maria Reffóios and has grown in double digits annually since then. 

Its products are seasonless and gender-neutral with exports accounting for 95% of its production.