Chiemsee

What Chiemsee does

Chiemsee GmbH & Co. KG is a German boardsport lifestyle apparel brand founded in 1982, headquartered in Hamburg with an additional office in Norderstedt, Germany. The company sells seasonal clothing and accessories for men, women, and children across beach/water sports (swimwear, surf shorts, beach bags) and winter sports (ski jackets, ski pants, functional base layers, the Defrost off-piste line), plus casual streetwear and accessories. Its signature is the kangaroo-pattern T-shirt that drove global brand recognition, supported by an international athlete team spanning windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, and skiing, and long-running sponsorships of the Multivan Windsurf Cup and Multivan Kitesurf Masters.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through its Magento-based storefront at chiemsee.com, with integrated payment processing via Stripe, Klarna (BNPL/installments), and PayPal; checkout is delivered through Kustom AB. Marketing relies on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, an email newsletter ("CHIEMSEE Family"), and the AWIN affiliate program, with content emphasizing boardsport heritage, the 40-year brand story, and sustainability. Product pricing is unit-based with no subscription component, ranging from approximately €9.95 (caps) to €149.95 (dry suits), with seasonal discounting and free, carbon-neutral shipping within Germany via DHL GoGreen.

The operating geography is DACH, and the company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds. Sustainability is embedded through amfori BSCI membership since 2010 and the MBRC the Ocean capsule collection using recycled materials. No revenue, headcount growth, or ownership-change data is publicly disclosed, and there is no indication of AI/ML capabilities, a mobile app, or API platform.

Name

Chiemsee

Legal name

Chiemsee GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://chiemsee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chiemsee is a German DTC e-commerce apparel brand, founded in 1982, selling boardsport lifestyle clothing and accessories (summer, winter, kids) to windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, and ski/snowboard consumers across the DACH region via chiemsee.com.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boardsport and Outdoor Apparel

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (4581), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Family Clothing Stores (5651)

akta.pro primary industry

Sporting Goods & Outdoor Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Boardsport apparel
• Outdoor clothing
• Swimwear and beachwear
• Ski and snowboard apparel
• Lifestyle fashion

Headquarters

HQ city

Norderstedt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apparel and Accessories Sales: Direct product sales through owned e-commerce channel. Products include swimwear, beachwear, casual apparel, ski/snowboard gear, and accessories for men, women, and children. Revenue generated through one-time product purchases with no subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chiemsee designs, sources, and sells boardsport lifestyle apparel and accessories through its own direct-to-consumer online shop (chiemsee.com). The catalog covers men's, women's, and children's clothing, swimwear and beachwear, ski and snowboard functional apparel, and complementary accessories (bags, headwear, towels, beach shoes, small leather goods), offered as seasonal Summer and Winter collections with a sustainability-focused MBRC the Ocean capsule sub-line.

Product overview

CHIEMSEE is a boardsport lifestyle apparel brand founded in 1982, offering a comprehensive e-commerce platform for fashion and sportswear. The product portfolio consists of seasonal clothing collections for women, men, and children including everyday apparel, swimwear, ski and snow sportswear, and accessories. The brand operates on a seasonal model with distinct Summer and Winter collections, unified by boardsport authenticity and quality. Key sub-brands include MBRC the Ocean (sustainable ocean-focused collection) and the Defrost line (high-performance ski gear for off-piste use). Accessories complement the core apparel offering with bags, headwear, towels, beach gear, and small leather goods. The entire collection is available through the official CHIEMSEE online shop at www.chiemsee.com.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MBRC the ocean: A capsule collection co-created with MBRC the Ocean to support ocean plastic cleanup initiatives. Products include swimwear, sweatshirts, and shorts made from sustainable materials.

Products and services

• Chiemsee Women's Clothing Women's apparel line offering T-shirts, tops, sweatshirts, sweat jackets, jackets, vests, pants, shorts, leggings, dresses, blouses, underwear, socks, and bathrobes for adult women consumers seeking boardsport-inspired casual and sportswear.
• Chiemsee Men's Clothing Men's apparel line offering T-shirts, tanks, sweatshirts, sweat jackets, jackets, vests, pants, shorts, leggings, polo shirts, shirts, underwear, socks, and bathrobes for adult men consumers seeking boardsport-inspired casual and sportswear.
• Chiemsee Kids' Clothing Children's apparel line for girls and boys covering pants, shorts, sweatshirts, fleece, T-shirts, dresses, blouses, swimwear, ski jackets, and ski pants for kids and family shoppers.
• Chiemsee Swimwear Beach and water sports swimwear including bikinis, swimsuits, swim shorts, surf shorts, and beach shirts for women, men, and children for swimming, surfing, beach, and pool use.
• Chiemsee Ski & Snow Collection Winter sports apparel including ski jackets, functional jackets, ski pants, functional pants, fleece, and functional underwear for men, women, and children, with the Defrost line targeted at off-piste use by skiers and snowboarders.
• MBRC the Ocean Capsule Collection Sustainable capsule sub-brand of apparel co-created with MBRC the Ocean, including swimwear, sweatshirts, and shorts made from recycled materials, with each purchase supporting ocean plastic cleanup missions for eco-conscious consumers.
• Chiemsee Bags Accessory bags including beach bags, travel bags, trolleys, sports bags, toilet bags, and school backpacks with functional details and Chiemsee designs for everyday and travel use.
• Chiemsee Headwear

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• amfori BSCIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Chiemsee has been a member since 2010 of amfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) which aims to improve working conditions globally. Chiemsee applies the code of conduct at production partners and monitors standards through regular audits.
• MBRC the OceancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on capsule collection to support ocean cleanup initiatives. MBRC the Ocean is dedicated to removing plastic from the world's oceans. The partnership produces sustainable swimwear and apparel made from recycled materials, with each purchase supporting the ocean cleanup mission.
• Multivan Windsurf CupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partner and main sponsor of the Multivan Windsurf Cup professional windsurfing competition. Chiemsee also sponsors the Multivan Kitesurf Masters, maintaining an active presence in the boardsport event ecosystem.
• RulanticaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater park partnership, likely involving promotional collaborations or co-branded initiatives.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing provider for all card transactions (Visa and Mastercard) through the e-commerce platform. Stripe is regulated in Europe and licensed as an E-Money Institution by the Central Bank of Ireland.
• KlarnacoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment service provider offering instant payment, buy now pay later, and installment options. Handles payment processing including any credit checks and invoicing for Chiemsee's e-commerce operations.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment method provider for PayPal transactions in the online shop, enabling customers to pay using their PayPal accounts.
• KustomcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent checkout solution provider (Kustom AB) that manages the e-commerce checkout interface, displaying available payment methods and delivery options. Kustom provides the user interface while payment processing is handled by separate providers.
• DHL / DHL GoGreencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogistics and shipping partner for order delivery within Germany. DHL GoGreen indicates carbon-neutral shipping option. Free standard shipping within Germany.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia: Premium outdoor apparel brand with strong sustainability positioning. Overlaps with Chiemsee on ski/snow outerwear and sustainability messaging (recycled materials, fair labor), though at a higher price tier and global scale.
• Jack Wolfskin: Major German outdoor apparel and equipment brand with broad portfolio spanning hiking, ski, and outdoor lifestyle. Comparable on ski/winter outerwear overlap and German market presence, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• The North Face: Global outdoor and ski apparel giant. Competes with Chiemsee on ski jackets and pants, technical outerwear, and seasonal winter collection marketing, but operates with substantially larger product, retail, and marketing footprint.
• Decathlon: World's largest sporting goods retailer with private-label apparel across surf, ski, and outdoor categories. Comparable on broad accessible sporting apparel at value price points that directly overlap Chiemsee's swimwear, ski, and casual sportswear lines.

Direct peers

• Rip Curl: Australian surf brand covering wetsuits, swimwear, and beachwear. Overlaps with Chiemsee on swimwear, surf shorts, beach accessories, and search/search-adjacent categories for boardsport consumers.
• Volcom: Board-sport rooted (surf, skate, snow) apparel brand. Competes with Chiemsee in boardsport-authentic apparel, lifestyle crossover, and youth-driven seasonal collection cadence.
• Quiksilver: Iconic boardsport lifestyle brand covering surf, snow, and skate apparel and accessories. Competes head-on with Chiemsee in boardsport-rooted apparel targeting men, women, and youth, with overlapping seasonal collection cadence.
• Roxy: Women's surf and boardsport lifestyle brand. Directly comparable to Chiemsee's women's swimwear, beachwear, and active lifestyle apparel lines, targeting similar boardsport-adjacent female consumers.
• O'Neill: Wetsuit and surf apparel pioneer with strong boardsport heritage. Comparable to Chiemsee on water-sports apparel, lifestyle crossover, and surf-rooted brand storytelling.
• Billabong: Surf-inspired apparel and accessories brand with global distribution. Directly comparable to Chiemsee in boardsport heritage, summer beach/surf apparel focus, and youth lifestyle marketing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ChiemseeTube
• Facebookfacebook.com/chiemsee
• Instagraminstagram.com/chiemsee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Chiemsee