K-Way
K-Way is a heritage weather-resistant apparel brand owned by BasicNet S.p.A., selling packable waterproof windbreakers (anchored by its Le Vrai 4.0 line) plus apparel, fleece, swimwear, and accessories through DTC e-commerce and physical retail across Europe and North America, targeting men, women, and kids.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What K-Way does
K-Way is a heritage weather-resistant apparel brand founded in 1965 and currently owned by BasicNet S.p.A., the Italian strategic operator that also controls other global sportswear labels. The brand is best known as the originator of the packable windbreaker concept, marketed today through its signature "Le Vrai 4.0" sub-brand, with variants covering short jackets, long coats, vests, ponchos, and insulated versions. Its core technology stack is built around materials features — packable constructions, waterproof membranes, breathable laminates, windproof weaves, Primaloft insulation, UV Protection, and Quick Dry finishes — bundled under what K-Way calls "The Urban System," a positioning aimed at functional outerwear for unpredictable weather.
The product portfolio extends well beyond the windbreaker into adjacent categories: full apparel lines (T-shirts, polos, hoodies, jumpers, trousers, swimwear, fleece, knitwear) and accessories (backpacks, luggage, duffle bags, beauty cases, wallets, caps, hats, gloves) for men's, women's, and kids' segments. K-Way sells direct-to-consumer primarily through regional e-commerce storefronts — k-way.co.uk in the UK — backed by a store-locator pointing to physical retail partners, with marketing channels spanning Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and email newsletters. Pricing is positioned in the accessible-premium mid-market, from ~£20 entry T-shirts to ~£495 premium padded jackets, supported by seasonal sale events of up to 40% off. K-Way operates across Europe and North America under BasicNet's regional brand-management structure.
K-Way firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- K-Way
- Legal name
- BasicNet S.p.A.
- Website
- https://k-way.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- K-Way is a heritage weather-resistant apparel brand owned by BasicNet S.p.A., selling packable waterproof windbreakers (anchored by its Le Vrai 4.0 line) plus apparel, fleece, swimwear, and accessories through DTC e-commerce and physical retail across Europe and North America, targeting men, women, and kids.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
K-Way industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Apparel and Outerwear
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (4581), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Family Clothing Stores (5651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performance Outerwear & Technical Apparel (CRAAAEAB), Cold-Weather Accessories Manufacturing (Thermal Sets/Arm & Leg Warmers) (IMAOAFAJ)
Keywords
Where K-Way is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
K-Way business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: One-time purchase of apparel and accessories through direct-to-consumer e-commerce and physical retail stores. Products include jackets, clothing, and accessories across men's, women's, and kids' categories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Le Vrai 4.0 Premium Jackets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's Jackets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's Jackets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids' Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Apparel |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
K-Way product offering
Product offeringCore offering
K-Way designs, manufactures, and sells weather-resistant clothing and outerwear, with the Le Vrai 4.0 windbreaker line as its signature product. The range includes jackets (short, long, vests), clothing (T-shirts, polos, hoodies, knitwear, trousers, swimwear), fleece, and accessories (bags, luggage, caps, gloves), available across men's, women's, and kids' categories through its own e-commerce platform and physical retail stores.
Product overview
K-Way is a clothing and outerwear brand specializing in weather-resistant apparel. The core product is the Le Vrai 4.0 windbreaker line, featuring waterproof, breathable, and packable jacket technology. The portfolio includes multiple jacket styles (short, long, vests), clothing (t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, sweaters, trousers, swimwear), fleece garments, knitwear, and accessories (bags, luggage, caps, gloves). Products span men's, women's, and kids' categories. Key technologies include Packable, Waterproof, Breathable, Windproof, Water repellent, UV Protection, Quick dry, and Primaloft insulation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Le Vrai 4.0: Signature windbreaker line featuring packable, waterproof, and breathable jackets for all weather conditions. Available in men's, women's, and kids' categories.
Products and services
- Le Vrai 4.0 windbreaker line K-Way's flagship packable, waterproof, and breathable windbreaker jacket line, available in men's, women's, and kids' versions including the Claude mid-length jacket, Claude Warm insulated jacket, Eiffel East long raincoat, Rouland Warm vest, and Morgan poncho. Targeted at consumers seeking functional weather-resistant outerwear with iconic brand heritage.
- Jackets (short, long, vests) K-Way's primary jacket category including short jackets, long jackets, and vests across men's, women's, and kids' lines, featuring waterproof, breathable, windproof, packable, and Primaloft insulation technologies. Prices range from £62.50 (vests) to £495 (premium padded jackets).
- Clothing (T-shirts, polos, hoodies, sweaters, trousers)
Companies that use K-Way
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
K-Way technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
K-Way partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
K-Way competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The North Face: Iconic outdoor and weather-resistant outerwear brand offering jackets with comparable technical features (waterproof, insulated, packable) across men's, women's, and kids' categories — directly comparable in product positioning and target consumer.
- Columbia Sportswear: Established outdoor brand offering waterproof and insulated outerwear with proprietary technologies; comparable in mass-to-mid-market technical outerwear segment and broad demographic coverage.
- Arc'teryx: Premium technical outerwear brand known for high-performance waterproof shells and insulated jackets; competes in the same premium weather-resistant jacket price tier as K-Way's higher-end lines.
- Canada Goose: Premium cold-weather outerwear brand offering parkas and insulated jackets with technical weather protection; comparable in cold-weather apparel positioning and premium pricing strategy.
- Patagonia: Premium outdoor apparel brand with strong heritage in weather-resistant jackets and technical outerwear; competes for the same technical-performance-conscious consumer seeking functional yet stylish outerwear.
Direct peers
- Hunter: British heritage brand known for waterproof rain boots and outerwear with urban lifestyle positioning; shares the 'original British waterproof' heritage narrative and similar DTC-driven premium positioning.
- Barbour: British heritage brand producing weatherproof jackets and outerwear with strong lifestyle positioning; closest direct peer given shared UK heritage, weather-resistant outerwear focus, and lifestyle-meets-function value proposition.
- Berghaus: UK-based outdoor apparel brand offering waterproof jackets and weather-resistant outerwear for hiking and everyday use; competes in the same UK market with similar technical outerwear positioning.
- Helly Hansen: Norwegian heritage brand specializing in waterproof and weather-protective outerwear with technical features; directly comparable product range including packable jackets and insulated coats.
Emerging players
- Rab: UK-based technical outerwear brand specializing in mountain and weather-protective jackets with strong technical credibility; competes for the same performance-oriented consumer with technical outerwear products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
K-Way social profiles
Digital presenceK-Way financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
K-Way leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
K-Way funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
K-Way M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about K-Way
What does K-Way do?
K-Way designs, manufactures, and sells weather-resistant clothing and outerwear, with the Le Vrai 4.0 windbreaker line as its signature product. The range includes jackets (short, long, vests), clothing (T-shirts, polos, hoodies, knitwear, trousers, swimwear), fleece, and accessories (bags, luggage, caps, gloves), available across men's, women's, and kids' categories through its own e-commerce platform and physical retail stores.
Is K-Way a public or private company?
K-Way is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was K-Way founded?
K-Way was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is K-Way based?
K-Way is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does K-Way make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Product Sales.
Who are K-Way's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The North Face, Columbia Sportswear, Arc'teryx, Canada Goose and Patagonia. Direct peers are Hunter, Barbour, Berghaus and Helly Hansen. Rab is listed as an emerging player.
Does K-Way have an API?
No public API is recorded for K-Way.
What industry is K-Way in?
K-Way's product category is Apparel and Outerwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAAAI, Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers, with a secondary code of CRAAAEAB, Performance Outerwear & Technical Apparel. Its NAICS code is 4581 and its SIC code is 2330.