Wool and the Gang today announced $2.8 million in funding to build on its fast-growing reputation for sustainable fashion, which harnesses the power of the internet and the creativity of the maker movement.
The investment round led by Index Ventures and Wellington Partners, together with MMC Ventures and a number of other tech investors enables Wool and the Gang to develop this ground-breaking Gang Collection™ and marketplace, as well as expanding its existing markets in the U.S., UK, Europe and Japan.
Wool and the Gang’s vision is to reboot old-style home manufacturing, slashing the time to market for fashion collections from the 6-12 months, which is standard across much of the fashion industry, to just 2-4 weeks. Focusing on fashion that’s uniquely made and never from a factory, the brand sources all materials for their sustainable qualities.
As one of the world’s most innovative fashion brands, Wool and the Gang sells its sustainably made knitwear either as Ready to Wear, hand-crafted pieces made by its global network of makers or items can also be bought as ‘Knit Kits’ which enable knitters to make their own Wool and the Gang apparel and accessories at home.
Lisa Rodwell, the firm’s CEO states: “We’re incredibly excited to have such experienced investors backing our quest to build a worldwide movement around sustainable, fashion that’s made unique and never from a factory. Wool and the Gang offers customers the chance to buy fashion in a more transparent way.”
Wool and the Gang is a global fashion brand that believes in exceptional design that’s Made Unique. Never factory made, each Wool and the Gang item is handcrafted or knitted by The Gang – our team of artisans and makers around the world. Wool and the Gang has made knitting cool, with millions of fans from around the world taking up their knitting needles. Co-founded by Central Saint Martins textile design graduates Jade Harwood and Aurelie Popper in 2008 who previously worked at Alexander McQueen and Balmain, Wool and the Gang’s development, designers and warehouses are located in Dalston, East London – an area increasingly known as a fashion hub, which is also on the fringes of Tech City.
By Lolita A. Alford