What Carl Gross does

Carl Gross is a German menswear manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer founded in 1925 and headquartered in Hersbruck, Germany. The company designs and sells a complete premium men's wardrobe, with men's suits as its signature product category, complemented by trousers, blazers/jackets, vests, dress shirts, coats and outerwear, knitwear, and accessories. A distinguishing structural feature is the modular "Baukasten" suit system, which sells jackets and trousers as separate, combinable SKUs, allowing customers to assemble outfits across multiple categories within the brand's product ecosystem. The stated product proposition combines Italian styling with German fit precision and quality.

The business model is direct-to-consumer apparel sales conducted exclusively through the company's owned e-commerce platform (carlgross.de). Revenue is generated through one-time product transactions rather than recurring contracts or subscriptions. Customer acquisition is driven primarily through an email newsletter channel that offers a 10% first-purchase discount in exchange for subscription. There is no disclosed wholesale, marketplace, or physical retail distribution in the available data, and no third-party integrations or platform partnerships. Select customer logos and named enterprise accounts are absent, consistent with a high-volume individual consumer base rather than B2B contracts.

No proprietary technology platform underpins the offering; the company's stated emphasis is on tailoring craftsmanship, fabric quality, and design rather than software. No AI/ML capabilities, app ecosystem, SDK, or API surface is disclosed. Headcount is reported as 101-250 employees. Detailed revenue, funding, ownership, and management data are not disclosed in the available source material, limiting visibility into corporate structure and recent operating performance.

Name

Carl Gross

Website

https://carlgross.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Carl Gross is a German premium menswear brand founded in 1925, manufacturing and selling men's suits, jackets, trousers, shirts, and accessories via its direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform, serving consumers seeking formal and business attire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Menswear

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (315250), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)

SIC

Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Dresses, Skirts & Tailored Apparel Cut & Sew (Suits/Formalwear) (IMAOAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Men’s Apparel Retail (CRAAABAC), Luxury Menswear (CRAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Men's tailored suits
• Premium menswear apparel
• Formal business attire
• Men's dress shirts
• Modular mix-and-match suits

Headquarters

HQ city

Hersbruck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apparel Sales: Carl Gross generates revenue through the direct sale of men's apparel and accessories. Customers purchase individual items (suits, trousers, jackets, waistcoats, shirts, coats, knitwear, accessories) or complete outfit combinations through the company's e-commerce platform. The revenue model is based on one-time product transactions rather than recurring revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Carl Gross manufactures and sells premium men's formal and business clothing directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform carlgross.de. Its signature offering is men's suits, available either as complete pre-assembled outfits or as a modular "baukasten" (mix-and-match) system in which jackets and trousers are purchased separately. The assortment is rounded out with trousers, blazers, vests, dress shirts, coats, knitwear, and accessories designed with Italian styling and German fit precision.

Product overview

CARL GROSS is a traditional men's fashion brand with 100 years of history specializing in premium men's clothing. The product portfolio centers on men's suits (Herrenanzüge) as the signature offering, supplemented by a complete wardrobe system including men's pants, blazers/jackets, vests, dress shirts, coats/outerwear, and knitwear. The company offers both complete pre-assembled suits and modular suits (Baukastenanzüge) where jackets and pants are sold separately. All products are designed with Italian styling and German fit and quality assurance, with an emphasis on combining classic and contemporary trends for versatility and sustainability. Accessories such as pocket squares, bow ties, and shirts complement the core clothing offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Suits (Herrenanzüge) Premium men's suits designed to adapt to any occasion, from weddings and formal celebrations to official business events. Available as complete pre-assembled suits or as modular Baukasten suits where jacket and pants are purchased separately, allowing customers to mix and match across cuts, colors, and fabrics.
• Men's Pants (Herrenhosen) Men's trousers combining classic tailoring with current trends, available in multiple cuts, colors, and fabrics including Chinos and Anzughosen (suit pants). Designed to combine with other Carl Gross garments for versatile outfit pairings.
• Blazers/Jackets (Sakkos) Stylish men's blazers and jackets offered in various cuts, colors, and fabrics, intended to combine with other Carl Gross clothing items to create coordinated outfits.
• Vests (Westen) Men's vests offered in various cuts, colors, and fabrics to elevate the wardrobe as trend pieces that combine with suits, jackets, and trousers.
• Shirts (Hemden) Men's dress shirts in multiple types, colors, and fabrics, each with its own character, designed for long-lasting quality and intended to complete formal suit looks.
• Coats & Outerwear (Mäntel/Jacken/Outerwear) Men's coats and jackets made from high-quality fabrics to protect against wind and cold, suitable for business appointments and everyday wear, available in fresh seasonal colors.
• Sweaters & Knitwear (Pullover/Strick) Classic timeless fine-knit sweaters available in autumnal tones and timeless light colors, designed to be worn under coats or suits, providing comfort and freedom of movement for everyday and office situations.
• Accessories (Accessoires) Trendy men's accessories including pocket squares, bow ties, and other items that allow customers to personalize their outfits for any occasion.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Seidensticker: Seidensticker is a long-established German shirt and menswear manufacturer with strong DTC and retail distribution across Europe. Comparable to Carl Gross as a heritage German menswear brand selling direct and competing on shirts, suits, and business attire.
• Hugo Boss: Hugo Boss is the global benchmark in premium menswear and formal/business attire with a strong DTC and wholesale footprint. It competes directly with Carl Gross for the same premium suit and business-occasion customer in Germany and broader Europe.
• Eterna: Eterna is a heritage German shirt and menswear brand with owned DTC channels and broad distribution. It overlaps with Carl Gross on dress shirts, business shirts, and the broader premium menswear occasion wardrobe.
• Windsor: Windsor is a German premium menswear brand focused on suits, occasion wear, and business attire, sold largely through its own e-commerce and select boutiques. Highly comparable to Carl Gross in target customer, price tier, and category focus.
• Strellson: Strellson is a Swiss premium menswear brand offering suits, business attire, and casual wear with strong DTC operations in Germany. Highly comparable to Carl Gross on target customer, product mix, and DTC-led go-to-market.
• Digel: Digel is a German menswear manufacturer specializing in suits, jackets, and trousers with a strong specialty-retail presence in DACH. Comparable to Carl Gross as a heritage-cut-and-sew menswear manufacturer competing on quality, fit, and fabric.
• Daniel Hechter: Daniel Hechter is a European premium menswear brand with strong suit and formalwear focus, distributed via department stores and DTC in Germany. Comparable to Carl Gross on occasion-wear target customer and suit-led assortment.
• JOOP!: JOOP! is a German designer menswear brand covering suits, shirts, and casualwear, anchored in the German market. Comparable to Carl Gross in premium positioning and the formal/business occasion wardrobe segment.
• Brax: Brax is a German premium menswear brand known for trousers and a full wardrobe of casual and business attire, sold via own DTC and specialty retail. Comparable to Carl Gross on German heritage, premium positioning, and trouser/suit-centric assortment.

Broad incumbents

• s.Oliver: s.Oliver is a larger German fashion brand with broad menswear collections spanning casual, business, and formal across multiple price tiers and channels. Comparable as a premium German menswear incumbent overlapping on occasion wardrobe, but at much greater scale and breadth than Carl Gross.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carl_gross_de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carl-gross-retail-gmbh

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 Carl Gross