What Korntex does

Korntex GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer of certified high-visibility safety apparel, headquartered in Fellbach (Stuttgart area). Founded as a specialist in safety vests (Warnwesten), the company has expanded into broader workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE), including softshell jackets, fleece and rain jackets, T-shirts, hoodies, work trousers, safety gloves, helmets, belts, and accessories such as backpack covers and reflectors. Products are certified to EN ISO 20471 for high-visibility performance, with key items additionally certified under STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX for textile safety, and the assortment spans sizes XS to 7XL. The company also operates a professional print and embroidery service that allows buyers to customize garments with logos, text, and event branding via a proprietary Online Creator tool.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through country-specific online storefronts (korntex.de, korntex.fr, and English/Italian variants), serving both B2C buyers (private individuals for road safety, cycling, and leisure) and B2B buyers (construction firms, emergency services, logistics operators, security providers, event organizers, and associations). Revenue is generated primarily through one-time unit-priced product sales, supplemented by customization service fees. Distribution is centralized from a German warehouse, with same-day dispatch for orders placed before 13:00 and multi-language customer support. Pricing ranges from roughly €2.10 per unit for entry-level warning vests to €34.81 for premium tactical vests, with wholesale pricing available for business customers.

Korntex markets through its own e-commerce platform, SEO-optimized category pages, paid search, and newsletter campaigns, with no third-party retail distribution in evidence. The firm is privately held with no disclosed funding history, a stated headcount of 1–10 employees, and is preparing a leadership transition with Arne Kirchner taking over as Managing Director in June 2026, framed by the company as the start of a 'next growth phase.' Production emissions are offset through investment in a Chinese wind farm, used as a sustainability positioning point for procurement-sensitive buyers.

Name

Korntex

Legal name

Korntex GmbH

Website

https://korntex.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Korntex is a German direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer and manufacturer of EN ISO 20471-certified high-visibility safety vests, workwear, and PPE accessories, serving construction, emergency services, logistics, events, and private consumers through multi-country online storefronts and a custom print/embroidery service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Visibility Safety Apparel & Workwear

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Visibility (Hi-Vis) Safety Apparel (CRAAALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workwear, Uniforms & Safety Apparel Retail (CRAAABAG), Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

Keywords

• High-visibility safety vests
• Certified workwear apparel
• Personal protective equipment
• Reflective safety clothing
• Custom printed safety vests

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time sales of safety vests, warning clothing, workwear, and PPE accessories through e-commerce. Products sold in various sizes (XS to 7XL) with customization options. B2B and B2C channels.
2. Custom Printing/Stitching Services: Print and embroidery services for customizing products with company logos, text, or event branding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Korntex manufactures and retails certified high-visibility safety apparel and workwear, with safety vests (Warnwesten) as the core SKU line. The range spans hi-vis clothing (Warnschutzkleidung), broader workwear & personal protective equipment (PSA), hi-vis accessories, and custom-printable items in sizes XS to 7XL. The company additionally offers professional in-house print and embroidery customization (Druck & Stickservice) via an online Creator tool for logos, text, and event branding. All products are sold through Korntex-owned country-specific e-commerce storefronts shipped from Germany.

Product overview

Korntex is a specialist provider of certified high-visibility safety products and workwear. The core product portfolio centers on safety vests (Warnwesten) in various configurations including zipper closures, pockets, mesh/summer styles, functional designs, and children's sizes, all meeting EN ISO 20471 standards. The product line extends to broader Workwear & Personal Protective Equipment (PSA) covering softshell jackets, sweatshirts, T-shirts, safety gloves, helmets, and belts. Hi-vis safety clothing (Warnschutzkleidung) includes additional protective garments. The company offers customization services through its print and embroidery service (Druck & Stickservice) for adding logos and branding to products. Products are available in sizes from XS to 7XL and are CO2-compensated through wind farm investments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safety Vests (Warnwesten) Certified EN ISO 20471 compliant high-visibility safety vests in multiple styles (with zipper, with pockets, mesh/summer, functional, children's, themed/national/pride designs, and custom printed variants), available in sizes XS to 7XL for construction, road, emergency, logistics, event, and individual consumer use.
• Hi-Vis Safety Clothing (Warnschutzkleidung) High-visibility safety clothing line including softshell jackets, fleece and rain jackets, hi-vis jackets, T-shirts/poloshirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, pants, and caps, designed for fire service, police, rescue, and industrial workplaces requiring EN ISO 20471 compliant visibility.
• Workwear & Personal Protective Equipment (Workwear & PSA) Broader workwear and PPE line covering softshell jackets, sweatshirts and hoodies, T-shirts and polos, caps and hats, safety gloves, protective helmets, belts, and ties/accessories for trade, industrial, security, and facility management use.
• Hi-Vis Safety Accessories (Warnschutz Accessoires) High-visibility accessory range including backpack covers (Rucksackhuellen), bags and sacks, and standalone reflectors for visibility in school, commuting, cycling, and leisure environments.
• Custom Printable Articles (Bedruckbare Artikel) Customizable black apparel items such as work jackets with company logos and reflective details, designed for B2B customers that want branded workwear with hi-vis detailing for their teams.
• Print & Embroidery Service (Druck & Stickservice) Professional in-house print and embroidery customization service that adds company logos, text, or event branding to Korntex safety vests and apparel, accessible via the online Creator tool for B2B and event/association buyers.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Snickers Workwear: Specialist workwear brand owned by Hultafors Group, focused on craft, construction, and industrial segments with hi-vis offerings. Comparable to Korntex in trade-segment focus, certified apparel, and European market orientation.
• Mascot International: Danish workwear manufacturer offering a broad range of certified safety clothing and hi-vis apparel. Comparable to Korntex in product breadth (workwear plus hi-vis), European B2B distribution focus, and certification-driven positioning.
• Portwest: Portwest is a leading Irish-based manufacturer and distributor of workwear, safety footwear, and PPE including high-visibility clothing. Direct overlap with Korntex in certified hi-vis vests and workwear, though Portwest operates at substantially larger scale across global B2B channels.
• Engelbert Strauss: German workwear and PPE specialist with strong brand recognition in trade, construction, and industrial segments. Directly comparable to Korntex in hi-vis and workwear product scope, with overlap in the German-speaking market and similar B2B/B2C split.
• Blaklader: Swedish workwear manufacturer with strong presence in Germany and other European markets, offering certified hi-vis and PPE clothing. Directly comparable in product mix and European B2B/B2C trade customer focus.

Regional players

• Prym Consumer: European specialist in workwear accessories and haberdashery including safety-relevant apparel components. Adjacent to Korntex's accessory lines (belts, ties, gloves) with overlap in European trade channels.

Broad incumbents

• Ansell: Global PPE specialist with a strong protective-solutions portfolio spanning hand protection, body protection, and hi-vis apparel. Comparable to Korntex in safety gloves and protective apparel categories, though at enterprise scale.
• UVEX: German-headquartered global PPE and safety equipment manufacturer. Overlaps with Korntex in certified protective apparel (helmets, gloves, hi-vis), but UVEX operates at much larger scale across multiple PPE categories including eye and hearing protection.
• 3M Personal Safety Division: Global conglomerate with a leading personal safety division producing hi-vis clothing, respirators, and protective equipment. Overlaps with Korntex in certified hi-vis vests and PPE accessories, but operates as a broad multi-category incumbent with global institutional reach.

Emerging players

• L.B.Plast: European hi-vis vest and safety apparel specialist with comparable DTC and B2B presence. Similar size profile to Korntex and direct product overlap in certified warning vests and reflective accessories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Korntex