Vida & Co. Secures $29M Investment From CimpressVida is working on an exclusive collection of custom-made, wearable-art pieces for Lord & Taylor.

[Collection]Artisan platform Vida & Co. has closed on a $29 million equity investment from Cimpress. The $2.5 billion mass customization and printing firm will become the majority owner of Vida & Co. Vida founder and chief executive officer Umaimah Mendhro and her executive team will continue on as co-owners of the business. The plan is for Vida to remain autonomous, while gaining access to the capabilities of Cimpress, such as in technology and procurement. Robert Keane, Cimpress founder and ceo, said, “We are investing in Vida because of its innovative and fast-moving approach to disrupting the large market for retail-grade consumer products via mass customization.” Vida had been backed by Google Ventures and Y Combinator. The company offers apparel, accessories and home decor products designed by artisans from around the world. It partners with brands and celebrities such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Golden Globes, Steve Madden and Cher. Vida is known for its global supply-chain that produces mass-customized items that range from custom-printed cashmere scarves to 3-D-printed jewelry. Vida also offers education and empowerment programs for its factory workers to help them and their families. Mendhro said, “We believe the traditional retail industry, where a group of buyers predict demand and build

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More...https://wwd.com/business-news/mergers-acquisitions/vida-co-secures-29m-investment-from-cimpress-merger-retail-1202772763/