At Vanguards we merge the worlds of institutional investors and creative entrepreneurs.
Our principals have a strong understanding of building new ventures, merging enviable experience and empathy for the entrepreneur’s journey with the financial support of EXIM Cross-border Fund.
The creative core of a brand will be cultivated, protected and nurtured as its most important asset.
We value quality, a clear design direction and strong creative point of view.
To achieve success in our business model is to nurture and empower founding creative talent whilst providing a proper, robust business framework.
Sustainability policies and commitments are supported cross-group so brands can assist each other in their sustainable ambitions, including sustainable supplier sources and other regulatory compliance and innovation practices.
As principal of private equity firm GB & Partners Investment Management, Agoston brings highly sought after and extensive experience as a mentor, entrepreneur and investor. Agoston has been a Board Member of Nanushka since 2016, at the commencement of the investment of the Fund.
He has worked for more than 15 years to manage complex multicultural projects, ventures and executive teams at an international scope and level.
Since 2016, Peter has been co-owner and CEO of Nanushka, where his work has resulted in tenfold business growth.
Peter’s impact has been evident through the introduction of innovative and ambitious business strategies to support the brand’s rapid international growth.
With its signature vegan leather, Nanushka captured the imagination of both consumers and the fashion trade, demonstrating the sector’s future direction: sustainable, luxurious, and covetable.
Elegant minimalism and innovative craftsmanship are fused at AERON. The brand is committed to blending consistent innovation, artisanal tailoring techniques and fine materials to striking effect.
Founded and based in Milan, SUNNEI combines the Made in Italy expertise with creativity and timeless authenticity. Going beyond any traditional fashion scheme and connecting to present times, the brand has emerged for its peculiar language which plays with the dualism of digital and physical via multidisciplinary and cross-media projects.
About Skala
Built by industry experts and designed specifically for the fashion and lifestyle businesses, Skala gives you a 360 view of your E-Commerce, Retail and Wholesale activity in one smart platform. Our all-in-one solution enables you to increase revenue and decrease costs.
Areas
Before investment
Our action
Results
Wholesale
Expensive distributor agreement with low reach; no presence in key international markets.
Terminated distributor agreement, negotiated agency deals and later built an in-house territorial sales team.
Wholesale operation with more than 300+ account in 50+ countries. Store-in-stores and exclusives with major accounts.
Retail
Unprofitable retail location in Budapest; no international retail operations.
Changed Budapest store location and improved customer store experience with Nanushka Cafe. Optimised retail marketing and hired key people, including Los Angeles pop up and international expansion.
Budapest retail turned into a highly profitable outlet; opening NYC store at Soho, Mayfair, London store under construction, opening in September.
E-commerce
Unprofitable online partnership with local e-commerce provider.
Took e-commerce in-house, hiring key managers, implementing new software, optimising paid media spend and launching the brand on Farfetch.
Rapidly growing e-commerce operation; January 2020 is the first month grossing more than €0.5 M e-commerce turnover.
Manufacturing
Local heavy supply chain, high- cost manufacturing incapable of providing volume.
Improved supply chain with international partners and implemented fully-factored processes for selective product categories.
Improved margins and delivery times, on-time delivery resulting in higher wholesale sell-through.
Financing
Lack of proper financial planning, unstable cashflow, insufficient capital to invest longer term.
Provided equity for long-term projects, setting up financial operation ready to work with external partners.
Stable equity background for expansion, various credit facilities from leading banks.
Expensive distributor agreement with low reach; no presence in key international markets.
Terminated distributor agreement, negotiated agency deals and later built an in-house territorial sales team.
Wholesale operation with more than 300+ account in 50+ countries. Store-in-stores and exclusives with major accounts.
Unprofitable retail location in Budapest; no international retail operations.
Changed Budapest store location and improved customer store experience with Nanushka Cafe. Optimised retail marketing and hired key people, including Los Angeles pop up and international expansion.
Budapest retail turned into a highly profitable outlet; opening NYC store at Soho, Mayfair, London store under construction, opening in September.
Unprofitable online partnership with local e-commerce provider.
Took e-commerce in-house, hiring key managers, implementing new software, optimising paid media spend and launching the brand on Farfetch.
Rapidly growing e-commerce operation; January 2020 is the first month grossing more than €0.5 M e-commerce turnover.
Local heavy supply chain, high-cost manufacturing incapable of providing volume.
Improved supply chain with international partners and implemented fully-factored processes for selective product categories.
Improved margins and delivery times, on- time delivery resulting in higher wholesale sell-through.
Lack of proper financial planning, unstable cashflow, insufficient capital to invest longer term.
Provided equity for long-term projects, setting up financial operation ready to work with external partners.
Stable equity background for expansion, various credit facilities from leading banks.
30M
20M
10M
How vegan leather brand Nanushka aced affordable luxury
A new Mayfair store follows a stellar three years for Sandra Sandor’s Hungarian label
In a Vast, Empty Swimming Pool, a Fashion Show
The designers behind the emerging Milanese brand Sunnei stayed true to their offbeat spirit during a very unusual fashion week.
Sweats and sequins: the duality of dressing at Milan Fashion Week S/S 2021
Sunnei – who just announced a new investment from Vanguards – celebrated Milan’s summer spaces, inviting guests to the Lido of Milan in the north of the city.
Sunnei SPRING 2021 READY-TO-WEAR
Lots of positive firsts are happening at Sunnei this season. The first of the firsts is a substantial investment made by financial platform Vanguard Group, one of whose partners is Hungarian brand Nanushka’s owner Peter Baldaszti.
Cool, calm and commercial in Milan
Six-year-old Sunnei, founded by designers Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo, is one of the rare young brands to rise to the surface.
Nanushka's Owner Launches New Fashion Group, Buying Milan's Sunnei
Sunnei has been a rare bright spot for independent designers on the Milan scene.
Sunnei si rafforza grazie all'investimento di Vanguards
L'accordo mira a sostenere l'espansione globale della griffe fondata a Milano nel 2014 da Loris Messina e Simone Rizzo.
Review of Day 2 of Milan Spring 2021
The Vanguard Group had purchased an investment in the brand to reinforce the business structure with the aim of global expansion ahead.
