Calao
Calao is a German family-owned swimwear manufacturer founded in 1987, designing and producing extended-size (34-56, cups A-G) Bademoden and a fitness apparel line in Hückeswagen for wholesale to retailers across Europe and the USA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersHückeswagen, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Calao does
Calao is a German family-owned swimwear manufacturer founded in 1987 by Ulrike Schneider, operating through the legal entity S.T.A. U. Schneider and headquartered at Heinrich-Schicht-Str. 15 in Hückeswagen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company designs, produces, and quality-monitors all of its swimwear ("Bademoden") in-house at this single site, drawing on high-quality base materials sourced from Italy, France, and Spain. The core product line spans sizes 34-56 and cups A-G, with French/Italian-influenced styling, an extended mastectomy sector, and complementary accessories (beach shirts, pareos, ensembles). A newer Fitness Kollektion (sport tops and pants, sizes 38-54, cups B-G) extends the assortment into activewear.
The business model is predominantly B2B wholesale to specialty swimwear retailers across approximately 10 countries, with primary markets in Germany and France and secondary presence in Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the USA. Wholesale access is mediated through a "Händlerbereich" dealer portal where retailers request catalogs and price lists; B2C reaches the consumer via an online shop at calao-shop.de and a Factory Outlet Shop at the Hückeswagen headquarters (open Monday-Friday 10:00-18:00 and Saturday 10:00-15:00). Multi-language marketing (German, English, French) is maintained on the corporate site. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or external equity funding is disclosed; the company is structured as a sole proprietorship with 1-10 employees and shows no M&A, partnerships, patents, or capital-raise history in the input data.
Calao firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calao
- Legal name
- S.T.A. U. Schneider
- Website
- https://calao.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Calao is a German family-owned swimwear manufacturer founded in 1987, designing and producing extended-size (34-56, cups A-G) Bademoden and a fitness apparel line in Hückeswagen for wholesale to retailers across Europe and the USA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calao industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Women's Swimwear and Apparel Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (315250), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Swimwear & Beachwear Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intimates, Lingerie, Swimwear & Sleepwear Brands (CRAAAAAF), Swim & Surf Performance Wear (CRAAAEAG), Athletic / Performance & Activewear Brands (CRAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where Calao is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hückeswagen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Calao business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- B2B Wholesale to Retailers: Calao sells swimwear and fitness apparel wholesale to retailers through their dealer portal, offering catalogs and price lists on request. This is their primary revenue stream.
- Direct Consumer Sales: The company operates a direct-to-consumer online shop (calao-shop.de) and a factory outlet store at headquarters for end-consumer purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | B2B wholesale pricing for retailers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Calao product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calao designs, manufactures, and distributes women's swimwear and fitness apparel in Germany, with an extended size range (EU 34-56, cups A-G) and dedicated mastectomy options. The company sells primarily wholesale to specialty retailers across Europe and the USA through a dealer portal, and directly to consumers via its own online shop and a factory outlet shop at its Hückeswagen headquarters.
Product overview
Calao is a German swimwear manufacturer founded in 1987, offering a diversified product portfolio centered on high-quality swimwear (Bademoden) and fitness clothing (Fitness Kollektion). The company operates primarily as a B2B supplier to retailers, with a Factory Outlet Shop and online store for direct sales. Their core products are designed and manufactured in Germany using Italian, French, and Spanish materials, with French/Italian styling influencing the collections. The brand targets fashion-conscious women with sizes 34-56 and cups A-G, including mastectomy options. Accessories such as beach shirts, pareos, and ensembles complement the swimwear offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bademoden 2026 (Swimwear Collection) Seasonal swimwear collection featuring French/Italian-influenced designs, produced in Germany with high-quality Italian, French, and Spanish materials, available in extended sizes 34-56 and cups A-G and including mastectomy options. Sold to retailers wholesale and to consumers directly.
- Fitness Kollektion Activewear collection including printed and solid-color tops and pants designed for fitness activities with emphasis on comfort, fit, and functionality. Available in sizes 38-54 and cups B-G.
- Accessoires (Beach Accessories) Beach accessories including beach shirts, pants, pareos, dresses, and ensembles designed to complement Calao's swimwear collections.
Companies that use Calao
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Calao technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Calao partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Calao competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sunmarin: German swimwear brand offering extended-size women's swimwear with an emphasis on fit and comfort. Comparable to Calao in target market (fashion-conscious women seeking well-fitting swimwear), German origin, and B2B specialty retail channel.
- Fantasie (Wacoal Europe): UK-based lingerie and swimwear brand with a strong extended-size and supportive-fit focus. Comparable to Calao on inclusive sizing, mastectomy-adjacent categories, and European specialty wholesale channels.
- Primadonna Swimwear: Belgian plus-size lingerie and swimwear brand. Comparable to Calao on extended-size positioning, European specialty retail distribution, and women-focused inclusive fit design.
- Rosa Faia (Anita Group): German lingerie and swimwear brand under Anita Group, focused on extended sizes and post-mastectomy solutions. Closely comparable to Calao on product mix (extended-size and mastectomy swimwear), target customer (women seeking supportive, fashionable swimwear) and country of origin (Germany).
- Anita Dr. Helbig: German mastectomy and post-surgery lingerie/swimwear specialist. Directly comparable to Calao on the mastectomy swimwear sub-segment and on extended sizing, as well as wholesale distribution through specialty retailers across Europe.
- Maryan Mehlhorn: Premium German swimwear brand producing made-in-Germany collections with European materials and fashion-forward styling. Comparable to Calao on geography, German manufacturing heritage, and women's premium swimwear positioning.
- Elomi (Wacoal): UK/US plus-size lingerie and swimwear brand, sister to Fantasie. Comparable to Calao on extended cup and band sizing (cup range extends well beyond mainstream), full-bust fit expertise, and international wholesale distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Seafolly: Australian premium women's swimwear brand with international distribution. Comparable to Calao on premium women's swimwear positioning and global wholesale reach, but with significantly larger scale, brand awareness, and marketing investment.
- Triumph Interiors: Global lingerie and swimwear group with broad assortment and extensive international retail presence. Comparable to Calao on women's swimwear, extended sizing and specialty wholesale, but as a much larger incumbent operating across many categories and geographies.
- Lascana (Otto Group): Large German women's swimwear and lingerie brand owned by Otto Group, sold across multiple retail channels in Europe. Comparable to Calao on product category and German origin, but materially larger scale, broader assortment, and broader geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Calao social profiles
Digital presenceCalao financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calao leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Calao funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calao M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Calao
What does Calao do?
Calao designs, manufactures, and distributes women's swimwear and fitness apparel in Germany, with an extended size range (EU 34-56, cups A-G) and dedicated mastectomy options. The company sells primarily wholesale to specialty retailers across Europe and the USA through a dealer portal, and directly to consumers via its own online shop and a factory outlet shop at its Hückeswagen headquarters.
Is Calao a public or private company?
Calao is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Calao founded?
Calao was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Calao based?
Calao is headquartered in Hückeswagen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Calao make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Wholesale to Retailers are the primary driver. The others are direct Consumer Sales.
Who are Calao's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sunmarin, Fantasie (Wacoal Europe), Primadonna Swimwear, Rosa Faia (Anita Group), Anita Dr. Helbig, Maryan Mehlhorn and Elomi (Wacoal). Broad incumbents are Seafolly, Triumph Interiors and Lascana (Otto Group).
Does Calao have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calao.
What industry is Calao in?
Calao's product category is Women's Swimwear and Apparel Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAEAH, Swimwear & Beachwear Cut & Sew, with a secondary code of CRAAAAAF, Intimates, Lingerie, Swimwear & Sleepwear Brands. Its NAICS code is 315250 and its SIC code is 2300.