Janji, a Boston-based running apparel brand, and Oiselle, a Seattle-based women’s apparel company, announced today that they will enter a “collaborative partnership” through a merger. The partnership will be facilitated by Digsbury Ventures, an early-stage venture fund that backs U.S.-made outdoor companies (including brands like women-owned Wild Rye, Bridge Bike Works, and Hest Outdoors).
This merger is not the same as an acquisition. The new “sister brands” will continue to operate independently as sole entities. But, they will also combine some staff, resources, markets, and community.
Under the new partnership, Janji and Oiselle hope to find synergy in their missions to build a “bigger community” in the running industry.
“I’ve been a member of the Oiselle team for 9 years. And I’m extremely proud of the community we have built,” Olympian Kara Goucher said.
Brand Leaders Remain in Current Roles
Oiselle founder Sally Bergesen will be stepping into an advisory role, while longtime Oiselle President, Atsuko Tamura, will continue to lead the brand. Also, Janji co-founders Mike Burnstein and Dave Spandorfer remain in their roles. Janji has also named Matt McCalpin as the Managing Director of Partnerships to support operations across both brands.
“Runners truly understand the value of community and connection and that hard efforts are best done as a group!” Bergesen said. “I’m thrilled to be joining forces with our friends at Janji, who share our passion for the sport and its people. I’m equally happy that Oiselle will remain a women-led company, something that has defined us since day one.”
Both brands will continue to foster their distinct running communities, they wrote in the announcement. Oiselle’s focus will continue on performance apparel for women runners. And Janji’s focus will continue with its global community and giveback mission. Janji’s 2% proceeds from each purchase go toward a rotating group of clean water initiatives worldwide.
Merger Details
Oiselle was founded in 2007, and Janji in 2012. The brands Oiselle and Janji will maintain their separate headquarters in Seattle and Boston, respectively. The merger goes into effect today, Feb. 22, 2023. You can expect brand collaborations to debut in each brand’s spring collections, coming in March 2023.
