Vagabond Shoemakers founders donate brand to charity

Sweden – Swedish footwear brand Vagabond Shoemakers has been given to charity in a unique gift from its founders, Marie Nilsson Peterzén and Mats Nilsson, who have donated the entire company to the newly established Vagabond Shoemakers Foundation. With over 30 years of dedication to building Vagabond Shoemakers into one of Europe’s leading shoe brands, the founders aim to support charitable initiatives through this generous gesture.

The Vagabond Shoemakers Foundation will now become the owner of the shoe fashion group, which achieved a sales value of £113.9m ($144.3m, €132.5m, SEK1.5bn) in 2023. This group encompasses in-house design, prototyping, distribution in over 50 countries and a strong portfolio of global trademark rights. The foundation’s unique ownership structure ensures that profits from Vagabond’s operations will be channelled into research, education and charitable projects aligned with its mission.

In a press release, Marie Nilsson Peterzén and Mats Nilsson emphasised their commitment to the brand’s fundamental philosophy: owning the entire value chain, fostering efficiency, sustainability and enduring quality. They believe that this approach will continue to drive the brand’s success while allowing them to make a lasting impact through the foundation, in line with our findings in Nature Stakeholders.