German backpack brand Kapten & Son has officially expanded into the UK market and is in “advanced discussions” to hit the high street over the course of 2025.
Kapten’s Frankfurt store – KAPTEN & SON
With itsDTC webstore already available for UK shoppers, the company said it’s negotiating with “top stockists” for a physical presence.
It’s also “hitting the ground running in the UK market with social media, PR and influencer activations. And more to come”.
Michael Rawson, senior country manager for the UK, said of the country introduction: “Our brand is built on the idea that minimalism doesn’t have to sacrifice practicality. We believe the UK market is ready for our backpacks, which combine sophisticated design with everyday functionality for the modern professional.”
It’s part of a wider growth programme that earlier this month saw the brand opening its next Experience Store in Frankfurt.
That store offers all the features of its new store concept with interactive stations where customers can put the backpacks through their paces, and a ‘Magic Mirror’, in which customers can see themselves from behind. They can also test out a backpack at the packing table, filling it with laptops, books, or water bottles and trying it while fully loaded. Plus there’s a Size Check station. As at an airport, it shows which models are allowed as carry-on bags.
Earlier this year, the company opened a store in South Africa, its first retail location outside of Europe, with a debut in Cape Town.
The brand is a popular one in Europe. Combining “minimalist design and practical functionality”, its backpacks are designed with the “modern professional in mind”, we’re told.
They have a travel focus, whether that’s for daily commutes, business trips or weekend getaways, with a focus on “functional designs and minimalist appeal”. They come with multiple compartments, padded laptop sleeves, and organised storage.
