Carel
France
Carel is a French shoe brand that Journal du Luxe describes as very high-end. It is owned by its chief executive Frederique Picard and the fund 123Investment Managers, who bought it in 2010, and it also owns Carvil.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Owners (since 2010) | Frederique Picard and 123Investment Managers |
| Sister brands | Carvil, Accessoire Diffusion |
| Key retailer | Galeries Lafayette |
What is Carel?
Carel is a French footwear brand positioned at the luxury end of the shoe market. The Journal du Luxe describes its shoes as very high-end. The article does not give a founding year, a founder or a headquarters, although French retailers list the brand under Paris.
Ownership
Frederique Picard, the current chief executive, and the fund 123Investment Managers bought Carel in 2010. The group also owns the men's brand Carvil, acquired in 1982, and the shoe brand Accessoire Diffusion, acquired in 2016 from Vivarte.
Products and positioning
- The Marquis ballerina, a revisited 40 year old classic released in a limited edition
- The Kina shoe, especially popular with Chinese customers
Distribution
The article names Galeries Lafayette as a sales outlet and says that 40 per cent of the clientele there is Chinese. It also reports strong sales in Russia, Japan and Hong Kong, and says sales have grown worldwide since 2010.
Why it matters
Carel shows how a French heritage shoe label has grown through export demand and by acquiring other footwear brands.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Carel from?
Carel is a French shoe brand, listed by French retailers under Paris.
Who owns Carel?
Frederique Picard and the fund 123Investment Managers bought Carel in 2010, according to Journal du Luxe.