NIGO’s Human Made is poised to acquire Jun Takahashi’s Undercover.
In an announcement of the execution of a letter of intent for the acquisition, as shared by Takahashi on Instagram, it’s said that Human Made’s Board of Directors made the decision on Monday (June 15). While the letter of intent isn’t legally binding, it does note that the process toward executing a share purchase agreement will soon be put in motion.
The letter also highlights the two designers’ extensive shared history and longtime friendship, plus the legacy of their iconic NOWHERE boutique shop in Tokyo.
“Based on this background, [Human Made] has determined that welcoming Undercover into its group and leveraging the company’s management capabilities to transform its business model is expected to enhance both the brand value of Undercover and the corporate value of the entire group,” reads the letter.
If all goes as planned, Undercover is expected to be formally made a consolidated subsidiary of Human Made by the first quarter of the 2028 fiscal year. Notably, the two entities have collaborated in the past.
The planned acquisition, per Monday’s letter, is part of a broader Human Made aim to “cultivate culture” by, in part, welcoming other companies under its umbrella.
Complex has reached out to Human Made reps for comment. This story may be updated.
The Undercover acquisition news comes after the opening of Human Made’s third South Korea retail location this weekend. Dubbed Human Made Jamsil, the store is located at Seoul’s Lotte World Mall. Its launch was commemorated with a new nine-piece collection exclusively available at the Seoul shop, plus a collaboration with VERDY.
