What American Exchange Group does

American Exchange Group (AEG, operating as AXNY Group) is a New York-based designer, manufacturer, and wholesaler of fashion accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, beauty products, tech wearables, and home goods, founded in 2008 by Alen Mamrout and operating with 500+ employees. The company controls a portfolio of more than 30 owned and licensed brands including Aerosoles, White Mountain Footwear, Island Surf Company, Indie Lee, Urban Skin Rx, NatureWell, iTOUCH Wearables, Armitron, Torgoen, Danecraft, Venus Fashion, and Allbirds (acquired 2026), with licensing arrangements for Kendall + Kylie, Jones New York, Ed Hardy, Mark Ecko Unlimited, Anne Klein, Vince Camuto, and Steve Madden. Proprietary capabilities include footwear comfort technologies (lightweight recovery foam, shock-absorbing return energy cushioning, contoured footbeds, water-resistant vegan-friendly materials) and in-house design, sourcing, and manufacturing operations spanning China and Vietnam.

AEG operates a wholesale-driven, channel-partner go-to-market, distributing through over 50 major and specialty retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Nordstrom, Macy's, DSW, Kohl's, Ross, Burlington, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, and TJMaxx, plus retail travel industry distributors and international channels reaching 40+ countries. Revenue is generated through wholesale distribution of owned brands, private label manufacturing, and licensing royalties on trademark arrangements. The business model is asset-light for brand expansion, leveraging acquisitions and licensing to scale into new categories rather than building brands organically.

Since 2022, the company has executed an aggressive roll-up of distressed and under-monetized brands (Aerosoles, White Mountain, HatchCollective, Danecraft, Island Surf, Indie Lee, Urban Skin Rx, Giant Propeller, Venus Fashion, E. Gluck, Allbirds IP), consolidating sourcing, design, and distribution while adding apparel, beauty, home, and sustainable footwear verticals. Operations are managed through divisional leadership with dedicated Presidents and C-suite officers for footwear, beauty, watches, and digital, and a recent in-housing of marketing via the Giant Propeller acquisition. The company is privately held by founder Alen Mamrout with no disclosed institutional ownership.

Name

American Exchange Group

Legal name

American Exchange Group

Website

https://axnygroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

American Exchange Group is a privately-held, New York-based designer, manufacturer, and wholesaler operating 30+ owned and licensed fashion accessory, footwear, beauty, watch, and wearable brands through major mass, department store, off-price, and e-commerce retailers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale/Private Label Manufacturing: American Exchange Group generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution of owned brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brands to major retailers globally. This includes footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, and beauty products sold through omnichannel retail partners.
2. Licensing Royalties: The company earns licensing royalties from trademark exclusivity arrangements with licensing partners including Kendall + Kylie, Jones New York, Ed Hardy, Mark Ecko Unlimited, South Pole, Mudd, Mossimo, Rampage, Anne Klein, Vince Camuto, and Steve Madden. The company leverages brand recognition, strategic support, and established business relationships to drive successful licensing partnerships.
3. Owned Brand Product Sales: Revenue from owned and acquired brands including Aerosoles, White Mountain Footwear, Island Surf Company, Indie Lee, Urban Skin Rx, Danecraft, iTOUCH Wearables, NatureWell, and others sold through major retail channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

American Exchange Group is a designer, manufacturer and wholesaler of fashion accessory products spanning footwear, fashion watches, jewelry, beauty and personal care, tech wearables, handbags, small leather goods, and home decor. The company operates an integrated brand management model across a portfolio of 30+ owned and licensed brands, distributing wholesale to 50+ major and specialty retailers globally and to corporate incentive and travel retail channels.

Product overview

American Exchange Group is a multi-division fashion accessory design, licensing, manufacturing, and brand management company. The company operates a diverse portfolio of over 30 owned and licensed brands spanning multiple categories: footwear (Aerosoles, White Mountain Footwear, Island Surf Company, Allbirds, Jessica Carlyle, Olivia + Kate, Alexis Bendel, Born, Cliffs, Cloud Chasers), tech wearables (iTOUCH Wearables, iTECH Wearables), beauty and personal care (Indie Lee, Urban Skin Rx, NatureWell, TXTUR, AX Beauty Brands), jewelry (Danecraft, Primavera Italy), fashion watches (Armitron, Torgoen), and licensed apparel (Jones New York, Kendall + Kylie, Ed Hardy, Mark Ecko Unlimited, Mudd, South Pole, Rampage, Mossimo, XOXO). The company serves major retailers globally through omnichannel distribution and focuses on unlocking brand value by expanding acquired brands into lifestyle categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aerosoles: Luxury comfort footwear brand for women
• White Mountain Footwear
• Island Surf Company
• Indie Lee
• Urban Skin Rx
• NatureWell
• iTouch Wearables
• Danecraft
• E. Gluck Holdings
• Venus Fashion
• AX Beauty Brands
• Jessica Carlyle
• Alexis Bendel
• Olivia + Kate

Products and services

• Aerosoles Luxury comfort footwear brand for women, sold in over 40 countries globally and at major retailers including Nordstrom, Macy's, DSW and Zappos.
• White Mountain Footwear Women's footwear brand focused on comfort at accessible price points, with over 40 years of heritage and a leading vendor position at Kohl's, Ross, Macy's and DSW.
• iTOUCH Wearables Lifestyle tech wearables brand producing smartwatches, fitness trackers, and fashion-forward tech accessories sold through Target, Amazon, Petco and other retailers.
• Island Surf Company Coastal, nautically-inspired footwear brand offering lightweight, water-resistant footwear with proprietary comfort features, sold at Bealls and Bealls Outlet and other retailers.
• Indie Lee Clean beauty skincare brand offering natural, cruelty-free skincare products sold through specialty and mass retail channels.
• Urban Skin Rx Clinical skincare brand targeting hyperpigmentation, dark marks and uneven skin tone for melanin-rich skin, available at 2,000+ U.S. retail locations including Target, Walmart and Ulta Beauty.
• NatureWell Beauty and personal care brand offering skincare and haircare products distributed through mass retail including Target.
• Danecraft Jewelry company with the Primavera Italy fine jewelry brand, part of the E. Gluck Holdings LLC portfolio.
• VENUS Fashion Heritage women's fashion brand founded in 1984 offering bold apparel, vacation-ready swimwear, and versatile wardrobe staples.
• Brand Licensing Portfolio Wholesale licensing program that designs, manufactures and distributes licensed fashion products under brand trademarks for Jones New York, Kendall + Kylie, Ed Hardy, Mark Ecko Unlimited, South Pole, Mudd, Mossimo, Rampage, XOXO, Anne Klein, Vince Camuto, Steve Madden and others.
• E. Gluck Holdings Fashion Watches and Jewelry Wholesale fashion watch and jewelry company formed from the acquisition of E. Gluck Corporation, owning Armitron and Torgoen watch brands plus Danecraft and iTouch jewelry brands and designing watches for Anne Klein, Vince Camuto and Steve Madden under license.
• iTECH Wearables Tech wearables brand offering smartwatches and fitness trackers sold alongside iTOUCH Wearables.

Quantifiable outcome

• Expanded White Mountain Footwear digital sales by leveraging Aerosoles' strong e-commerce platform (targeting 20-30x growth)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers34 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WSG Brands (White Space Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026In partnership with White Space Group (WSG Brands), American Exchange Group acquired Allbirds IP assets. The companies serve as co-owners, with WSG handling brand management and licensing while AEG manages product design and manufacturing, planning to expand Allbirds into new product categories, retail channels, and international markets.
• WSG BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026American Exchange Group and WSG Brands jointly acquired Allbirds IP assets, with WSG serving as co-owner and operating partner while AEG handles footwear design and manufacturing. Plans include deploying an asset-light licensing model to expand Allbirds into new product categories, retail channels, and international markets.
• WSG BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026American Exchange Group partnered with WSG Brands as co-owners in the acquisition of Allbirds IP and assets. WSG Brands serves as the operating and growth partner handling brand management and licensing while AEG manages footwear design and manufacturing. The partnership aims to expand Allbirds into new product categories, retail channels, and international markets through an asset-light licensing model. This is a key strategic partnership for AEG's brand portfolio expansion.
• E. Gluck CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026American Exchange Group acquired E. Gluck Corporation to form E. Gluck Holdings LLC, creating what the companies describe as the premier wholesale fashion watch and jewelry company. The combined entity owns brands including Armitron, Torgoen, Danecraft, and iTouch while also designing for Anne Klein, Vince Camuto, and Steve Madden. The deal aims to enhance market share, innovation, and distribution across global retail channels.
• Consortium Brand PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024American Exchange Group partnered with Consortium Brand Partners in the acquisition of Jonathan Adler. The partnership combines AEG's manufacturing and distribution expertise with CBP's strategic investment and brand-building capabilities. Jonathan Adler continues to operate under the partnership, expanding its retail presence and wholesale distribution globally.
• White Mountain FootwearcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 January 2023American Exchange Group acquired White Mountain Footwear and integrated it with Aerosoles operations. White Mountain's sales, sourcing, development, and production operations handle Aerosoles brand. The partnership leverages White Mountain's established infrastructure, sourcing capabilities, retail partners, and decades-long expertise in the footwear industry. White Mountain is a leading vendor for Kohl's, Ross, Macy's, and DSW.
• Jillian MichaelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2022iTOUCH Wearables, a brand under American Exchange Group, announced a multi-year partnership with health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels to develop exclusive Jillian Michaels edition wearables including smartwatches and fitness trackers. The partnership aims to leverage Michaels' expertise and audience reach to expand iTOUCH brand awareness and product sales.
• Kendall + Kylie (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Kendall + Kylie brand within American Exchange Group's portfolio of 30+ licensed brands across footwear, accessories, and apparel categories.
• Jones New York (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Jones New York brand within American Exchange Group's portfolio of 30+ licensed brands across fashion accessories and apparel.
• Ed Hardy (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Ed Hardy brand within American Exchange Group's portfolio, leveraging the brand's iconic tattoo artistry heritage for fashion accessories.
• Mark Ecko Unlimited (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Mark Ecko Unlimited brand within American Exchange Group's portfolio of streetwear-influenced fashion accessories.
• Anne Klein (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerE. Gluck Corporation (now part of E. Gluck Holdings under American Exchange Group) designs watches for Anne Klein brand, providing fashion watch design and manufacturing under the licensed brand.
• Vince Camuto (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerE. Gluck Corporation (now part of E. Gluck Holdings under American Exchange Group) designs watches for Vince Camuto brand as part of its licensing business.
• Steve Madden (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerE. Gluck Corporation (now part of E. Gluck Holdings under American Exchange Group) designs watches for Steve Madden brand under a licensing arrangement.
• Mudd (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Mudd brand within American Exchange Group's fashion accessories portfolio.
• Mossimo (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Mossimo brand within American Exchange Group's fashion accessories portfolio.
• Rampage (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for Rampage brand within American Exchange Group's fashion accessories portfolio.
• South Pole (Licensing)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing partnership for South Pole brand within American Exchange Group's fashion accessories portfolio.
• Bealls Department StoresminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with Bealls department stores, a regional retailer with values that align with American Exchange Group. Island Surf Company is sold at Bealls and Bealls Outlet. The company has an honor of long-standing partnership with Bealls known for its exceptional products and commitment to core values.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Authentic Brands Group: The largest brand licensing platform in the world (Reebok, Forever 21, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, etc.). Directly comparable to AEG's asset-light, multi-brand licensing and brand management model, although ABG operates at materially larger scale and is more brand-licensing centric.
• Centric Brands: Wholesale distributor of fashion accessories, footwear, kidswear and licensed apparel to major retailers globally. Closest analog to AEG's combined owned-brand plus licensed-brand wholesale model across fashion accessories categories.
• Fossil Group: Designer, marketer and distributor of fashion watches, jewelry, leather goods and wearables under brands including Fossil, Michael Kors, Armani, Diesel and Kate Spade. Highly comparable to AEG's watch/jewelry division post-E. Gluck combination.
• Movado Group: Wholesale designer watch and watch-accessory company with licensed brands (Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Coach, etc.) plus owned brands (Movado, Concord). Similar watch-first pedigree to E. Gluck and American Exchange Group's licensing model.
• Steven Madden: Designer, wholesaler and licensor of fashion footwear, handbags, apparel and accessories distributed through major department stores and off-price retailers. Closely matches AEG's footwear-wholesale focus and willingness to license brand names.
• Xcel Brands: Brand management and licensing platform for consumer brands including Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Claiborne, and Halston. Comparable to AEG's wholesale-light, licensing-driven approach to managing fashion and lifestyle brands.

Broad incumbents

• Caleres: Footwear-focused parent of Famous Footwear and branded wholesale (Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Allen Edmonds, Via Spiga). Comparable in branded footwear wholesale to AEG's White Mountain/Aerosoles portfolio, though without AEG's broader fashion-accessories reach.
• Tapestry: Owner of Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman; competes for premium department store shelf space relevant to AEG's accessories and footwear. Operates a hybrid owned-plus-licensed brand model similar in form (though not in scale or product breadth) to AEG.
• Skechers: Global comfort-focused footwear designer and wholesaler distributed through mass, department store and off-price channels that overlap with AEG's mass-market footwear distribution. Larger and brand-monolithic versus AEG's portfolio approach.

Others

• Sequential Brands Group: Former brand management/licensing aggregator (owned Martha Stewart, Jessica Simpson, Joe's Jeans and others) that ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2021. Relevant comparable as a cautionary precedent for AEG's multi-brand licensing model rather than as an active peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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• Facebookfacebook.com/American-Exchange-Group-792163151063469
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-exchange-group-nyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A12 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about American Exchange Group