The Kooples
Verdoso · France
The Kooples is a Paris fashion brand founded in 2008 by the Elicha brothers around the idea of a shared wardrobe for couples. After six years under the Swiss Maus Frères group it was acquired in April 2025 by the French group Verdoso.
| Founded | 2008, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founders | Alexandre, Laurent and Raphaël Elicha |
| Owner | Verdoso (since April 2025) |
| Previous owner | Maus Frères (2019 to 2025) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Website | thekooples.com |
What is The Kooples?
The Kooples is a French premium ready-to-wear brand for women and men. It became known for advertising campaigns featuring real couples and for its slogan un vestiaire pour deux, a wardrobe for two, with menswear-inspired pieces that can be shared. Rock music, vintage and British tailoring are recurring influences, and a skull is the brand's emblem.
History
The brand was created in Paris in 2008 by the brothers Alexandre and Laurent Elicha, later joined by Raphaël Elicha. Their parents had founded Comptoir des Cotonniers in 1997. The Kooples grew very quickly: it had about 160 points of sale in France by 2011 and was present in 24 countries by 2014, including stores in New York and wholesale with US department stores.
LBO France took a minority stake in 2011. In 2019 the Swiss holding company Maus Frères, owner of Lacoste, bought the brand. In April 2025 The Kooples was acquired by the French group Verdoso, according to Wikipedia; details of the transaction were not widely published.
Products and positioning
The Kooples sits in the premium contemporary segment with a slightly edgier look than many Parisian peers:
- Tailored jackets, suits and shirts for women and men
- Leather jackets, knitwear and T-shirts
- Dresses and eveningwear
- Bags, shoes, jewellery and small accessories
Business model and distribution
The brand is predominantly retail-led, with own boutiques, department store corners, outlets and e-commerce, complemented by wholesale partners abroad. Its network peaked in the early 2010s and has since been streamlined, with 99 stores in France reported in 2018.
Why it matters
The Kooples is a case study in fast brand building through strong storytelling, and in the challenges that follow rapid store expansion. Its successive changes of ownership track the wider consolidation of the French contemporary segment.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns The Kooples?
According to Wikipedia, the French group Verdoso acquired The Kooples in April 2025. The Swiss holding company Maus Frères had owned the brand since 2019.
Why is it called The Kooples?
The name plays on the word couples. The brand was launched with campaigns featuring real couples and with the idea of a wardrobe that partners can share.