What Khaite does

Khaite is a privately held American luxury womenswear and leather goods house founded in 2016 by Creative Director Catherine Holstein, with Brigitte Kleine serving as CEO. The brand reinterprets classic American sportswear for the twenty-first century and is consistently positioned by editorial and trade press as a leading 'quiet luxury' label alongside The Row, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, and Toteme. Product breadth spans ready-to-wear (dresses, tops, knitwear, leather, outerwear, jackets, denim, pants, skirts), handbags (seven named families including Blake, Lotus, Audrey, Joan, Olivia, Cate, and Augustina), footwear (boots, pumps, sandals, flats, mules), and accessories (belts, jewelry, eyewear), with retail price points ranging from $590 for KHAITE x Oliver Peoples sunglasses to $8,900 for premium outerwear and up to $8,000 for exotic-skin clutches.

The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and selective wholesale model. The DTC channel consists of khaite.com (complimentary worldwide shipping, 14-day returns) and a freestanding flagship on Mercer Street in New York's SoHo neighborhood. Wholesale distribution is intentionally curated through premium luxury partners — Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Harrods, and SND's ten-store Chinese multibrand network (including a dedicated Khaite shop-in-shop at the Guangzhou Dongshankou flagship). Customer acquisition relies almost entirely on earned media: consistent editorial coverage across Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Who What Wear and WWD; organic celebrity styling placements (Tessa Thompson, Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid, Kate Moss, Margot Robbie); and semi-annual NYFW runway presentations that double as buyer-engagement events.

International expansion is the most active growth vector. A November 2025 joint venture with Yagi Tsusho Ltd. established Khaite Japan Corp. for the Japanese market, the SND Guangzhou partnership expanded the China footprint in late 2025, and the brand ships to a broad list of markets spanning North America, Europe (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden), Asia (Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, India), the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) and Australia. The organization is lean (51–100 employees), founder-controlled, and shows no disclosed institutional capital, M&A, or restructuring activity.

Name

Khaite

Legal name

Khaite

Website

https://khaite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Womenswear

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Womenswear (CRAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Luxury womenswear
• Leather goods
• Ready-to-wear fashion
• Quiet luxury brand
• Designer handbags

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of womenswear, leather goods, shoes, and accessories through owned e-commerce platform and freestanding retail stores. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases at luxury price points.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Selective wholesale distribution through premium multi-brand luxury retailers including Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa, SND, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Harrods. Products sold at full retail price through partner boutiques.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Khaite designs, produces, and sells luxury womenswear (dresses, tops, knitwear, outerwear, jackets, pants, skirts, denim), leather goods (handbags, shoes, belts), and accessories under its own KHAITE label. The brand sells through its owned e-commerce platform (khaite.com) with complimentary worldwide shipping, a flagship retail store on Mercer Street in New York's SoHo neighborhood, and selective wholesale distribution through premium luxury retailers including Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa, SND, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Harrods. Seasonal collections (Resort, Spring/Summer, Pre-Fall, Fall/Winter) plus capsule edits are released semi-annually.

Product overview

Khaite is a luxury womenswear and leather goods brand offering a comprehensive fashion portfolio. The product lineup centers on Ready-to-Wear (dresses, tops, knitwear, leather, outerwear, jackets, pants, skirts), complemented by Handbags (totes, shoulder bags, crossbody, top handle, evening clutches) and Shoes (boots, sandals, flats, pumps, mules). Denim and Accessories (belts, jewelry, eyewear via Oliver Peoples collaboration) complete the offering. The brand operates seasonal collections (Resort, Spring/Summer, Pre-Fall, Fall/Winter) plus exclusive capsule edits. Notable collaborations include KHAITE x Oliver Peoples for logo-less sunglasses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ready-to-Wear Comprehensive womenswear clothing category including Dresses, Shirts & Tops, Knitwear, Leather garments, Outerwear & Coats, Jackets, T-Shirts & Tanks, Pants & Shorts, and Skirts. Targeted at affluent women seeking understated, high-quality, meticulously tailored luxury clothing. Pricing ranges from $680 (denim-adjacent entry) to $8,900 (coats).
• Handbags Leather goods category featuring Totes, Shoulder Bags, Crossbody Bags, Top Handle, and Clutches & Evening styles. Includes signature lines such as Blake, Lotus, Audrey, Joan, Olivia, Cate, and Augustina. Targeted at luxury consumers seeking logo-less, timeless leather handbags priced from $1,480 (crossbody) to $8,000 (clutches and exotic-skin pieces).
• Shoes Footwear category including Boots, Sandals, Flats, Pumps, and Mules. Key styles include Marlene Boot, Marlene Pump, Marcy Pump, Jett D'Orsay Pump, and Liria Kitten Heel Sandal. Targeted at luxury women seeking elevated everyday footwear, priced from $980 (pumps, sandals) to $1,480 (boots).
• Denim Jeans and denim category offering Straight Jeans, Wide Leg & Flare Jeans, Relaxed Jeans, Skirts & Shorts, and Denim Jackets & Tops. Key styles include Callum Jean and Finley Jean. Entry-level pricing in the brand's range, starting from $680.
• Accessories Accessory category including Belts (Benny, Manhattan, Lucca, Luna collections), Jewelry (Keefe, Cyclone collections), Eyewear (via Oliver Peoples collaboration), and Soft Accessories. Belts priced $620–$740; earrings $620–$1,500; necklaces up to $6,800.
• KHAITE x Oliver Peoples Eyewear A licensed eyewear collaboration with Oliver Peoples featuring logo-less sunglasses with timeless designs named after years (e.g., 1974C). Launched in early 2023 and continuing as a popular collection among celebrities and fashion icons. Priced from $590.
• Seasonal Collections Seasonal fashion collections including Resort, Spring/Summer, Pre-Fall, and Fall/Winter releases (Resort 2025 through Resort 2027 listed), plus exclusive capsule edits such as Back to the City. Presented semi-annually at New York Fashion Week.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• MytheresacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2026Mytheresa and Khaite co-hosted an intimate Valentine's Day cocktail event at Bemelmans Bar in New York City following the Fall/Winter 2026 runway show. Event featured high-profile guests from fashion and entertainment industries, strengthening the retail partnership.
• Yagi Tsusho Ltd.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Khaite and Yagi Tsusho formed joint venture Khaite Japan Corp. to enter the Japanese market through a long-term strategic alliance. Yagi Tsusho's local expertise and established retail channels will be leveraged to launch and distribute Khaite products in Japan.
• SNDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025SND, a Chinese multibrand concept store founded in 2013, opened a flagship in Guangzhou featuring dedicated spaces for Khaite alongside Phoebe Philo, Dries Van Noten, Carven, and Jil Sander. Located in Dongshankou neighborhood, the store is among five retailers authorized to carry Phoebe Philo. SND operates 10 locations across China.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Khaite incorporated invasive Burmese python leather (from Florida Everglades) into runway collections as part of an environmentally-focused initiative. The program removes pythons from the ecosystem and converts them into luxury leather goods, with Khaite and Gabriela Hearst as participating designers.
• Oliver PeoplescoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2023KHAITE x Oliver Peoples eyewear collaboration launched in early 2023, featuring logo-less sunglasses with styles named after years (1974C). The collection has gained significant traction among celebrities and fashion icons, representing a key brand extension into accessories with timeless design aesthetics. Products priced from $590.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Row: Luxury minimalist womenswear and leather goods brand founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The Row is the closest direct peer to Khaite, sharing the quiet luxury positioning, premium pricing, and focus on understated American craftsmanship.
• Toteme: Swedish minimalist luxury brand offering womenswear, knitwear, and accessories. Toteme is directly comparable to Khaite on quiet luxury positioning, DTC-led model, and contemporary premium pricing.
• Altuzarra: American luxury womenswear brand founded by Joseph Altuzarra, recognized at NYFW alongside Khaite. Direct peer on American luxury craftsmanship, NYFW positioning, and contemporary ready-to-wear focus.
• Proenza Schouler: American contemporary luxury womenswear and accessories brand. Comparable on NYFW positioning, premium price points, and brand-driven DTC + wholesale distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Celine: French luxury house under LVMH historically known for minimalist womenswear under Phoebe Philo. Celine is a broader incumbent peer, with the Phoebe Philo-era aesthetic and price points closely comparable to Khaite's positioning.
• Brunello Cucinelli: Italian heritage luxury house specializing in quiet luxury cashmere and refined ready-to-wear. Profiled alongside Khaite as a benchmark for the segment; comparable on pricing strategy and brand positioning despite greater scale and heritage.
• Loro Piana: Italian luxury house (founded 1924) under LVMH, focused on premium cashmere, wool, and understated luxury apparel. Profiled alongside Khaite as a quiet luxury benchmark; comparable on craftsmanship-driven positioning at the high end.

Emerging players

• Gabriela Hearst: Luxury womenswear brand emphasizing sustainability and craftsmanship. Comparable on quiet luxury positioning and Burmese python leather sourcing initiative that Khaite also participates in.
• Tove: London-based quiet luxury womenswear label founded in 2019. Profiled alongside Khaite as a newer entrant in the quiet luxury segment; comparable on minimalist aesthetic and contemporary luxury positioning.
• Phoebe Philo: Founder-led luxury womenswear brand by the former Celine creative director. Directly comparable to Khaite on minimalist luxury aesthetic, celebrity-driven demand, and selective distribution through premium multibrand retailers including SND.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/khaite_ny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/khaite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Khaite