Trail, the European asset management firm scaling up successful and promising entrepreneurs, and Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated to African heritage emerging brands, have announced a strategic agreement to support African fashion houses and premium emerging brands.
Trail will invest in Birimian’s designated investment vehicle in the first phase of this partnership.
This funding will help Birimian continue to invest in African brands, with a focus on capacity building and brand growth.
The second phase will see Birimian and Trail team together to form “Birimian X Trail,” a long-term investment company that will spend at least EUR 5 million per year in a carefully curated portfolio of companies.
By the end of the year, this investment company should have completed its first round of financing.
Birimian Partners With Trail
Birimian has found an institutional investor in Trail, who will assist the company in achieving its goal of scaling up the multibillion-dollar African fashion business and becoming a leader in the field.
Using its wide network of partners, consultants, and key stakeholders, Trail will assist Birimian in its value generation approach.
Trail has a long history in the European fashion and leisure industries.
Trail will be able to bring its experience to the African continent as a result of the cooperation with Birimian, which will take advantage of the rising company’s knowledge of pan-African fashion marketplaces and designers.
Several obstacles are preventing African creative businesses from succeeding, including inadequate manufacturing capacities, a lack of access to capital, and limited distribution networks.
To address these issues, Birimian X Trail will provide both operational and financial support to African heritage brands, as well as access to strong networks of professionals to help them scale-up and enter new markets.
The relationship between Birimian and Trail also provides a new alternative to the typical private equity model, which is geared to foster long-term brand development.
Designers, investors, and textile manufacturers will all gain from the new model, which will raise the value of African fashion.
Read more stories here