V FRAAS

What V FRAAS does

V FRAAS GmbH is a privately-held, family-owned German textile accessories manufacturer and brand operator founded in 1880 in Wüstenselbitz/Helmbrechts, Upper Franconia. Over five generations the company has scaled from a regional scarf producer into a global accessories business operating across owned brands (FRAAS — The Scarf Company launched 2006, LOEVENICH hats acquired 2024, Giorgio Rimaldi budget scarves launched 1996), licensed brand distribution (bugatti men's headwear and scarves under licence from Winter 2023/Summer 2024), distribution partnerships (Shed Rain umbrellas for Europe), and a private-label contract design business serving fashion houses, automotive brands, airlines, interior designers, military/police, and humanitarian organizations.

The company's technology stack centres on vertically integrated textile manufacturing. A wholly-owned 22,000-square-metre production campus in Zhangjiagang, China (established 2004) operates three factories under one roof for weaving and finishing, warp knitting (Raschel), and flat knitting, with annual capacity of approximately 3.5 million pieces and weekly weaving capacity of 40,000 pieces. The firm operates one of the very few fully electronic circular knitting machines worldwide capable of producing complex double-face, check, and argyle patterns. Proprietary technology includes the trademarked Cashmink® synthetic material (Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, available in a recycled version saving up to 53% energy) and the signature FRAAS Plaid pattern. A boutique knitwear factory remains in Germany, with design teams in Helmbrechts, New York, Düsseldorf, and Shanghai producing 500-700 new styles per year.

V FRAAS monetizes across multiple revenue streams: B2C e-commerce through fraas.com and Amazon (Giorgio Rimaldi), a physical Factory Outlet at headquarters offering up to 70% discounts, B2B contract design/private-label manufacturing, licensing royalties (bugatti), and distribution mark-ups (Shed Rain). Go-to-market combines sales-led enterprise field sales through six global sales offices with self-serve B2B commerce (b2b.vfraas.com integrated with NuORDER by Lightspeed and EDI), channel partnerships, and consumer e-commerce. The legal entity structure comprises V. FRAAS GmbH as the primary operating company plus subsidiary V. FRAAS International Trading GmbH & Co. KG for international business, with CEOs Alexander Schmidt and Andreas Schmidt leading the organization.

Name

V FRAAS

Legal name

V. FRAAS GmbH

Website

https://vfraas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

V FRAAS is a German family-owned textile accessories manufacturer (founded 1880) producing scarves, hats, blankets, and home accessories through vertical manufacturing in Germany and China. It serves fashion brands, automotive, airlines, military, and humanitarian clients via owned brands, licensed brands, private label, and global sales offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Accessories Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Knit Outerwear Mills (2253)

akta.pro primary industry

Scarves/Shawls/Winter Neckwear Manufacturing (IMAOAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Headwear Manufacturing (Hats/Caps/Beanies) (IMAOAFAA), Contract / Private Label Cut & Sew Manufacturing (OEM/ODM) (IMAOAEAM), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Textile accessories manufacturing
• Scarves and shawls
• Private label apparel
• Knitted hats and gloves
• Home textile accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Helmbrechts

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Own Brand Products: Sale of proprietary textile accessories under FRAAS (The Scarf Company), LOEVENICH (hats), and Giorgio Rimaldi (value accessories) brands through B2C e-commerce and retail channels.
2. Licensed Brand Products: Production and sale of bugatti men's headwear and scarves under license (since winter 2023), expanding product portfolio.
3. Private Label/Contract Manufacturing: Bespoke collections crafted exclusively for clients. Five generations of textile expertise, vertical production in China, global sales offices. Market segments include fashion brands, home accessories, functional sportswear, and institutional customers.
4. Factory Outlet Sales: Direct retail sales of accessories at headquarters in Wüstenselbitz with discounts up to 70%, featuring grade B goods, special offers, sample items and additional stock from other manufacturers.
5. Distribution Partnerships: Distribution partnership for Europe with Shed Rain (leading US umbrella supplier), expanding product portfolio breadth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

V. FRAAS manufactures and distributes textile accessories — scarves, stoles, shawls, hats, gloves, ponchos, blankets and home textile accessories — under proprietary brand FRAAS, licensed brand bugatti, owned brand LOEVENICH, and budget brand Giorgio Rimaldi. The company sells through its own B2C e-commerce shop, the FRAAS Factory Outlet, the Amazon Brand Store, and a global B2B private-label program supported by a B2B online portal and sales offices in six countries. Vertical manufacturing is anchored by a 22,000 sqm production facility in Zhangjiagang, China (3.5 million pieces/year capacity) and a boutique knitwear factory in Germany.

Product overview

V. FRAAS is both a manufacturer and trading company with over 140 years of heritage (founded 1880) offering a comprehensive portfolio of textile accessories. The core product line centres on FRAAS - The Scarf Company (est. 2006), featuring signature plaid scarves and proprietary Cashmink® synthetic accessories. The owned brand portfolio includes LOEVENICH hats (acquired June 2024) and Giorgio Rimaldi budget scarves (est. 1996). Licensed brands include bugatti for men's headwear and scarves (since 2023/2024). Distribution partnership covers SHED RAIN umbrellas for Europe. B2B services encompass a Private Label programme for custom collections and a B2B Shop portal (b2b.vfraas.com). Manufacturing is vertically integrated with facilities in Zhangjiagang, China and Germany, offering weaving, knitting, finishing, and cut-make-trim services. The company also operates a Factory Outlet in Wüstenselbitz. Living Accessories (home textiles) complement the fashion accessory range.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FRAAS: Core brand of the company launched in 2006. Offers textile accessories including scarves, stoles, shawls, hats, gloves, ponchos and cosy blankets.
• bugatti
• LOEVENICH
• SHED RAIN
• Giorgio Rimaldi
• Cashmink

Products and services

• FRAAS - The Scarf Company Core proprietary brand of V. FRAAS since 2006, offering textile accessories including scarves, stoles, shawls, hats, gloves, ponchos and blankets featuring signature plaid patterns and Cashmink® materials.
• Cashmink® Proprietary synthetic functional material used across FRAAS accessories, surpassing natural fibres in softness, warmth and comfort, certified Oeko-Tex Standard 100, available in a recycled polyester variant.
• bugatti Headwear & Scarves Licensed brand collection of men's headwear and scarves produced and distributed globally by V. FRAAS under license from bugatti, a leading lifestyle brand.
• LOEVENICH Owned hat brand portfolio including sun hats, straw hats, visors, event hats, baseball caps, rain hats and bags, aligned with V. FRAAS's 'no matter the weather' vision.
• SHED RAIN Umbrellas (Europe) Distribution of Shed Rain umbrellas for HER & HIM across Europe under a distribution partnership, diversifying the portfolio along V. FRAAS's 'no matter the weather' positioning.
• Giorgio Rimaldi Budget-friendly brand offering quality scarves without compromising on design, primarily distributed through the Amazon Brand Store.
• Living Accessories

Quantifiable outcome

• Cashmink® recycled polyester saves up to 53% energy compared to conventional production
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LOEVENICHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Strategic multi-seasonal partnership where V. FRAAS GmbH takes over the LOEVENICH hat brand from June 2024. Expands portfolio to include sun hats, straw hats, visors, event hats, baseball caps, rain hats and bags. Aligns with 'no matter the weather' vision.
• SHED RAINcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Distribution partnership for Europe with SHED RAIN, the leading supplier of umbrellas in the USA. Diversifies product portfolio along the 'no matter the weather' vision, making the portfolio broader and more robust for the future.
• bugatticoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 October 2023License partnership where V. FRAAS has been responsible for global bugatti Headwear MEN since winter 2023 season. From summer 2024, the brand's men's scarves were also taken under licence. Leading lifestyle brand meets global accessories specialist.
• A2 Shop GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal company managing retail sales spaces in Frankfurt and surrounding area for V. FRAAS. Provides visual merchandising and fashion consulting services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Johnstons of Elgin: Scottish heritage cashmere and woven accessories manufacturer producing scarves, stoles and knitwear with a comparable mix of own-brand retail and private-label B2B supply, like V. FRAAS's core scarf manufacturing franchise.
• Faliero Sarti: Italian luxury scarf and shawl manufacturer serving premium fashion houses and private-label contracts — directly comparable to V. FRAAS on jacquard/woven accessory production for B2B and branded channels.
• Mantero Seta: Italian heritage silk scarf and accessories producer with in-house printing, finishing and B2B private-label services — overlapping with V. FRAAS's woven/printed scarf and licensing model.
• Begg & Co: Scottish heritage maker of luxury cashmere scarves and woven accessories — closely comparable as a multi-generational specialty scarf manufacturer with proprietary materials and premium positioning.
• Falke: German premium hosiery and accessories manufacturer with vertical European production and a strong private-label B2B book — a same-country benchmark for V. FRAAS in technical knit accessories.

Broad incumbents

• Hermès: Global luxury house with an iconic silk carré scarf franchise; not a direct competitor in mid-market scarves but sets the aspirational benchmark and competes at the high end of V. FRAAS's premium B2B customers.
• Burberry: British heritage fashion house with a prominent cashmere scarf and accessory line; comparable on heritage branding, licensing and global distribution rather than on contract manufacturing.
• Loro Piana: Italian luxury textile and accessory brand with deep cashmere and wool expertise; competes with V. FRAAS at the premium woven-accessory tier and informs ESG/sustainability positioning.

Emerging players

• Acne Studios: Swedish contemporary fashion house with a meaningful scarf and knit accessory assortment sold globally; useful as a younger brand-building comparable within V. FRAAS's own-brand licensing playbook.

Others

• Shed Rain (umbrellas): US umbrella brand already partnered with V. FRAAS for European distribution; relevant as the existing counterparty whose renewal, expansion or termination shapes V. FRAAS's 'no matter the weather' umbrella strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/policy.php
• Pinterestpolicy.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy
• Instagramhelp.instagram.com/519522125107875
• Xhelp.twitter.com/de/privacy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 V FRAAS