Acne Studios
Privately held (founders with IDG Capital and I.T Group minority stakes) · Sweden
Acne Studios is a Stockholm fashion house founded in 1996 as part of the creative collective ACNE, with Jonny Johansson as founder and creative director. It remains majority controlled by its founders and management, with minority stakes sold to IDG Capital and I.T Group in 2018, and it is one of Scandinavia's best known designer brands.
| Founded | 1996, Stockholm |
|---|---|
| Founders | Jonny Johansson, Mats Johansson, Jesper Kouthoofd, Tomas Skoging |
| Creative director | Jonny Johansson |
| Minority investors | IDG Capital and I.T Group (2018) |
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Website | acnestudios.com |
What is Acne Studios?
Acne Studios is a Swedish designer brand offering men's and women's ready-to-wear, denim, footwear and accessories. It describes its approach as multidisciplinary, extending into magazines, furniture, books and exhibitions, and it is known for a clean Scandinavian aesthetic with experimental and artistic touches.
History
Acne began in Stockholm in 1996 as a creative collective founded by Jonny Johansson, Mats Johansson, Jesper Kouthoofd and Tomas Skoging. In 1997 Johansson made 100 pairs of raw denim jeans with red stitching, which drew attention from the fashion press. Acne Studios became a standalone company in 2006 and launched e-commerce the same year. It relaunched its denim as Acne Studios Blå Konst in 2017 and moved its headquarters to Floragatan 13 in Stockholm in 2019. In 2026 the brand marked its 30th anniversary.
In December 2018 IDG Capital acquired 30.1 percent and I.T Group 10.9 percent of the company, with Jonny Johansson and executive chairman Mikael Schiller remaining majority shareholders.
Products and positioning
- Ready-to-wear: womenswear and menswear shown in Paris
- Denim: the brand's original category
- Accessories: bags, scarves, shoes, eyewear and jewellery
- Publishing: Acne Paper
Business model and distribution
Acne Studios combines its own boutiques, shop in shops in department stores, wholesale to several hundred retailers and online stockists, and its own e-commerce, which offers services such as in store pickup.
Why it matters
Acne Studios is a key example of a Nordic brand that grew from a creative collective into a global designer label while keeping founder control. Its early move into e-commerce and its balance of wholesale and own retail make it relevant for brands planning international expansion. The minority investments by IDG Capital and I.T Group also illustrate how Asian investors have backed European designer brands seeking growth in China and the wider region.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Acne Studios?
According to the most recent public information, Jonny Johansson and Mikael Schiller are the majority shareholders. In 2018 IDG Capital bought 30.1 percent and I.T Group 10.9 percent of the company.
Where is Acne Studios from?
Acne Studios is from Stockholm, Sweden, where it started in 1996 as part of the creative collective ACNE. It is still headquartered in Stockholm.