The Ermenegildo Zegna Group has made a second round of investment in the Canadian footwear brand Norda.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Zegna Group, which has its own fashion brand and owns the Thom Browne fashion brand, initially approached Norda in 2021 after the brand launched its debut shoe, the 001. The companies entered a financial partnership in 2023, reported WWD.
Norda now offers five shoe models, various offshoots of the original 001, and a growing range of apparel and accessories. The brand is stocked in specialty run stores as well as fashion boutiques like Dover Street Market and Nepenthes.
The capital will be used to keep up with demand at Norda, which has been experiencing exponential growth.
“We’ve seen continued, unprecedented growth since we first came to market — the brand is doubling in size every year — and substantial capital is required to sustain that rapid progression,” Norda co-founder and CEO Nick Martire told WWD. “This investment simply enables us to continue doing what we do best, and do it at an even larger scale.”
Ermenegildo Zegna, chairman and CEO of the Zegna Group, emphasized that this decision reinforces their long-term belief in the brand and that Norda’s identity — rooted in material innovation and lightness — aligns with the group’s purpose.
“As a custodian of authenticity, we are proud to stand alongside Norda’s management and continue to work with the brand as it grows,” said Ermenegildo Zegna, chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.
This scaling up was evident at The Running Event, where Norda previewed its latest innovation, the 055, at The Running Event. This new model is the next iteration of the 005 race-day shoe, designed with a taller stack height, a new knit collar and a more structured heel.
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