Human Made Inc., the Japanese streetwear firm founded by celebrity designer Nigo, plans to raise about 2.7 billion yen ($18 million) in an initial public offering as the fashion company seeks to capitalise on rising global interest in Japanese culture.
Human Made has a bold, streetwear aesthetic – Human Made
The company’s existing shareholders will also sell about 14 billion yen worth of shares, Human Made said in a regulatory filing. The figures are based on an indicative price of 2,920 yen per share, it said on Thursday.
The IPO would come at a time anime and video games are helping drive up global interest in Japanese pop culture, and as the cheap yen encourages a record number of tourists to flock to the country, pushing up retail sales. The deal would also help Human Made, which has stores in Shanghai, Seoul, and Hong Kong, expand.
The stock is expected to start trading on November 27 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Growth Market. Nomura Holdings Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. are arranging the deal, the company said.
Human Made was started by designer and record producer Nigo, known for creating streetwear label A Bathing Ape three decades ago. Nigo, who was previously chief executive officer at Human Made, now serves as its creative director. He’s also known for being the top designer at fashion house Kenzo, which is owned by LVMHMoet HennessyLouis Vuitton SE.
The label also counts artist Kaws and musician Pharrell Williams, a long-time collaborator with Nigo, as advisers.
