Kapital, a 30-year-old Japanese brand known for handmade and high-quality denim, recently acquired a majority stake from LVMH-affiliated PE firm L Catterton.

Neither party officially announced the deal; The investment only became widely known after users on Reddit noticed that L Catterton had added capital to a website that listed brands in which the company has a majority stake. Highsnobiety then reported on the deal, which apparently took place last year.

Kapital’s new majority shareholder comes shortly after the death of its founder Toshikiyo Hirata in April 2024. Today, Kapital has developed a cult following among men’s fashion enthusiasts with its Japanese Boro denim and Americana-inspired wares. Although the label has limited distribution (retail stores are only in Japan), its fan base is global. Kim Jones notably collaborated with Kapital for Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection. While celebrity fans of Kapital such as Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky have increased the brand’s awareness in recent years.

L Catterton, backed by LVMH and Groupe Arnault, the family holding company of LVMH owner Bernard Arnault, has been involved in many of fashion’s biggest deals since its founding in 2016. In 2023, the company went public from Birkenstock and acquired a majority stake in the French company. In the same year, he founded the label APC and made numerous other investments in fashion and beauty as well as home goods, restaurants and even pet food.

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