Bikkembergs, the sport couture label founded by Belgian designer Dirk Bikkembergs in 1987, is accelerating its retail expansion, targeting 23 new stores between 2024 and 2026. This includes the opening of 16 stores in Russia, Central Asia, and Morocco, with five scheduled for 2025 and an additional 11 in 2026. This growth follows a year of consolidation and positive business results, driven by increased international sales and successful partnerships with local retailers in key markets such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Morocco.
In addition to retail expansion, Bikkembergs has been restructuring its licensing strategy, signing production and distribution agreements for various product lines. In particular, the brand has seen a substantial increase in sales within its childrenswear segment, thanks to a licensing deal with Italian manufacturer 2Brothers, which has helped triple revenue in this category since 2020. In early 2024, 2Brothers also received the license for Bikkembergs’s men’s ready-to-wear collections.
However, the label has decided to refocus its efforts on menswear, ending its women’s ready-to-wear line in 2025. This shift will not affect its women’s footwear line, which continues to perform well alongside the men’s range. Bikkembergs has also enjoyed success in footwear, particularly with its reissued Met Hole shoes featuring metal heels, a popular model first introduced in the 1990s.
Bikkembergs’s licensing strategy spans several categories, including footwear, childrenswear, underwear, swimwear, and accessories. In 2024, its licensing business generated nearly €30 million in revenue, with significant contributions from its e-commerce platform. Italy remains Bikkembergs’s primary market, followed closely by Russia. The brand is now looking to further solidify its presence in the USA and other international markets through strategic retail and licensing deals.
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