10.7.2025
says Zdeněk Rinth, CEO and majority owner of KARA Trutnov
How did you even think that Kara would be interested in buying the Pietro Filipi fashion brand?
The brand was originally tendered by the investment group Natland and we subsequently acquired it from them. The key to considering whether to enter the competition at all was that we didn’t want the brand to be acquired by the original owners or the people behind them. We were convinced that Pietro Filipi as a traditional manufacturer of women’s and men’s fashion, which was well established with the public until 2021, and the brand value was there. We just didn’t want there to still be speculation and controversy around it.
You’ve earned the mark. What were the next plans and intentions?
In the beginning we considered two or three directions to go. We were wondering what to do next. And then I realised that it was not quite in my power to fundamentally and substantially revive Kara again and at the same time rebuild the Pietro Filipi brand almost from the ground up. After long discussions with various young designers and creatives, we gradually came to the conclusion that we had to put the brand in professional hands, which was subsequently confirmed by the market situation. At the same time, we knew that we did not want to profit from the sale or the brand as such, but our intention was to entrust it into the hands of professionals and, if possible, with Czech origin.
Was that successful?
After long negotiations and quite a lot of interest from the market, we were approached by the vision of the DaniDarx group, which operates the Trenýrkárna.cz e-shop, and which has already had experience with the restart of another brand in the past. In the final rounds of the selection process, they appeared to us as an ideal partner that would be able to develop the brand further.
Can you reveal the price at which they acquired the mark?
We will not disclose the price, it is based on mutual understanding and agreement with the buying partner.
Do you have any information on what their next plan is for the Pietro Filipi brand?
Yes, though not in full detail. However, as I said, the vision and outlines of the buyer’s intentions were presented to us, as with the other bidders, during the tender process and were most agreeable to us. However, this is more a question for the buyer himself; I think he will present everything himself soon.
Coming back to your own business, how is Kara doing?
Kara is doing great. She is out of all the past problems, the results for last year and the year before only confirm it.
What are you planning for the next season, are there any new products or model lines waiting for customers?
Preparations for the 2023/24 season are in full swing. We are preparing a new model range combining textile materials with leather and fur.
Do you have a biggest hit that sells best?
I’m sure. It’s our after-sales service.
What do you mean?
It’s actually quite simple: our own cleaning facility, complete service including repair or replacement of individual parts and care for our products even after the customer takes them home. All this even after the warranty period.
Even Kara already has its own e-shop, although most often people go to shops to buy products. Recently there have been several new foreign, mainly Chinese online shops, how big – if – is this a problem or competitor for you?
It’s not competition. Our e-shop is basically an additional service for customers to be able to choose the way of purchase that suits them best. This includes pre-selection on our website.
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