Next Level Apparel (PPAI 272027, S3), headquartered in California, has announced the acquisition of Stedman, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of premium casual and sportswear blank apparel for the printwear industry based in Aachen, Germany.

Background

  • Founded in 2003, Next Level Apparel is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of premium blank apparel for the printwear, retail, brand specialty and other decorated apparel markets.
  • Founded in 1953, Stedman offers product collections across men’s, women’s and youth apparel with a focus on quality and ethical production.
  • With a distribution center in Ghent, Belgium – and a market presence in over 40 countries – Stedman’s international foundation will accelerate Next Level Apparel’s strategic geographic expansion in Europe. 

The Acquisition

Next Level Apparel is part of the Blue Point Capital Partners portfolio, a private equity firm managing over $1.5 billion in committed capital. Blue Point typically invests in businesses that generate between $30 million and $300 million in revenue.

The partnership between Next Level Apparel and Stedman will position the platform to:

  • Expand Next Level Apparel’s geographic presence into Europe while broadening Stedman’s footprint into the U.S.
  • Leverage complementary product collections for future product portfolio growth.
  • Continue to identify opportunities for mergers and acquisitions as a key driver for strategic advancement.

What They’re Saying

  • “The team at Stedman is excited to join ranks with Next Level Apparel, a strong partner and the perfect match, thanks to numerous synergistic qualities and values across both companies,” says Stedman General Manager Marcel Schweigert. “This partnership opens up new growth opportunities for everyone involved, and I am personally thrilled to be part of it, not only as a stakeholder but also as a shareholder.”
  • “The Stedman team has built a strong brand and a culture of excellence, and we’re excited to have them join Next Level Apparel,” says Randy Hales, CEO of Next Level Apparel. “This partnership presents a great opportunity to expand and diversify both organizations’ footprints across Europe and the U.S.”