Cotopaxi launch in UK marks Europe wholesale debut

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 18, 2019

Fast-growing American outdoors and lifestyle brand Cotopaxi has made its first move into the UK and Europe wholesale market with the appointment of a UK distributor.

Its new UK partner for the AW20 season is Unify Brand Partnerships, which is based in South Wales and which will be its first appointed European distributor. It will handle the brand in the UK and Ireland.

Cotopaxi is the first venture capital-backed ‘Benefit Corporation’ (a US term that denotes a for-profit firm that has a positive social and eco impact) as well as being a Certified B Corp company. It’s also rapidly expanding in the North American outdoors apparel and gear market. The company currently sells in the EU via its direct-to-consumer website but isn't yet available via wholesale there.

Unify BP managing director Damian Cooper said that the American firm is particularly keen to launch in the UK/Ireland markets as the two countries are “focused on championing proactive and conversation-starting brands, of which Cotopaxi most certainly is.” He also described the company as “a game-changer in the outdoor and lifestyle spaces, representing the new wave of consumer-driven brands, empowering the public and advocating for change.”

Meanwhile, Cotopaxi said that the UK company has “a core competency in pivotal brands, representing trendsetters such as, Teva, Reef, Tretorn, Stance, Hoka One and more.” 

The company said that the UK seems like “the next natural step for wholesale distribution, with its trendsetting consumers and innovative retail opportunities,” as well as its “vibrant outdoor lifestyle culture.”

The colourful cross-generational brand, which only launched in 2015, should certainly find a ready market among ‘conscious’ consumers in Britain and Ireland as it has a good story to tell. Its sustainability focus includes an entirely repurposed collection of products that have been created from offcuts of larger production runs, while its also earmarks 2% of its proceeds for Cotopaxi Foundation grantees helping people in underdeveloped parts of the world.

Unify BP will show the new AW20 Collection from the label at the outdoor sector’s key European show, ISPO, in January.