City Chic Collective is proving to be a dominant force in plus-size fashion.
The Australian retailer has acquired Navabi, a German multi-brand e-retailer that similarly sells women’s clothing and accessories in an extended size range of 10-28.
The 6 million euro ($7.1 million) deal comes after a busy few years for City Chic, whose acquisition spree since 2019 has largely focused on snapping up distressed businesses, shedding their brick and mortars and converting them to digital operators. The retailer acquired bankrupt plus-size chain Avenue for $24.4 million and paid $30.6 million for British plus-size enterprise Evans during the bankruptcy and liquidation of its former owner, Arcadia Group. Last year, City Chic was outbid in its attempt to nab Catherines, another plus-size chain, from Ascena’s bankruptcy.
Navabi gives City Chic a foothold in Europe, where Ragtrader pegs the plus-size market at 40 billion euros ($47.5 billion). Founded in 2009, the German digital merchant sells private labels such as Navabi Kollektion, Amber & Vanilla, and Annalisa, in addition to third-party fashion brands including Junarose, Levi’s, Marina Rinaldi Sport, and Isolde Roth. Navabi generated about 16.6 million Australian dollars ($12.3 million) in sales and attracted 5.8 million website visits last year, according to Ragtrader. Founders Zahir Dehnadi and Bahman Nedaei have exited the business, according to Drapers, although Ragtrader has reported that other members of the senior management team were part of the deal, which included Navabi’s assets and liabilities.
Meanwhile, City Chic’s plus-size roots include selling apparel, footwear and accessories under the brand names City Chic, CCX, intimates label Hips & Curves and lingerie specialist Fox & Royal. It began operations in 1992 as Miller’s Retail, but later was renamed Specialty Fashion Group in 2006. The company rebranded itself in 2018, naming it City Chic Collective after the sole fashion business that it kept following the sale of other business divisions and banners.