Baum und Pferdgarten

Baum und Pferdgarten is a Danish fashion house founded in Copenhagen in 1999 by designers Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave. The two founders met while studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and developed their creative partnership after graduating, beginning the business in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district. The brand’s name combines the founders’ surnames and reflects the equal creative partnership at the centre of the label. The house built its identity around a recognizable tension between polished and playful elements. Its collections have combined tailored garments, feminine silhouettes, graphic prints, bright colour, sequins, knitwear, and practical outerwear. Rather than operating exclusively within a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic, Baum und Pferdgarten has generally used contrast as a design principle: classic and eccentric, restrained and decorative, formal and casual. This approach has helped it occupy a position in contemporary ready-to-wear while retaining a distinctly Copenhagen fashion identity. The company experienced financial difficulties in 2009. Teis and Bjørn Werring Bruun subsequently invested in the business and became co-owners. The ownership structure changed again in 2019, when the Bruun brothers and the two founders sold 51 percent of the company to Swedish private-equity firm Verdane. Public business-register information cited in reference material identifies Teis Werring Bruun as chief executive officer and co-owner, while Baumgarten and Hestehave continue to hold minority interests and remain associated with the creative direction of the label. Baum und Pferdgarten’s Copenhagen presence includes its headquarters on Amaliegade and a nearby flagship store on Vognmagergade. The store opened in February 2010 and was developed with Danish creative studios Femmes Regionales and All The Way To Paris. Retail distribution has expanded beyond Denmark: by 2025, the company reported presence in more than 30 countries through approximately 400 retail outlets, in addition to direct online sales. The brand has also achieved visibility through celebrity and royal dressing, including clothing worn by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The label has used collaborations and cultural initiatives to extend its fashion proposition. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it launched Back to Back Artist Collaboration, a digital project supporting seven emerging visual artists whose work was inspired by artists Jane Freilicher and Jane Wilson. In 2024, Baum und Pferdgarten worked with American sneaker company Etonic on a capsule featuring updated versions of the Kendrai and Dropshot models. The collection first appeared on the autumn/winter 2024 runway and went on sale online in September 2024. Its autumn/winter 2025 collection, titled “Heartbeats,” was presented in a parking garage with oversized red inflatable hearts. The collection brought together suiting, sequins, and functional outerwear, with reported references ranging from Alexa Chung’s style to Queen Elizabeth II’s countryside wardrobe. In interviews, the founders have described diversity across age, body type, gender, and ethnicity as part of the brand’s design outlook. Baum und Pferdgarten remains an active independent-origin fashion label with international wholesale, retail, and e-commerce operations.

Baum und Pferdgarten was established in Copenhagen in 1999 by Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave. The designers met at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and formed their label after completing their studies. Their early work was developed in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district, linking the company from the outset to the city’s emerging contemporary fashion environment. The founders shaped the brand around a dual design language. Collections have repeatedly placed conventional wardrobe categories such as tailoring, dresses, knitwear, and outerwear alongside strong colour, graphic pattern, decorative surfaces, and unexpected styling. This combination allowed the label to distinguish itself from a purely pared-back interpretation of Scandinavian fashion. Its womenswear has remained commercially wearable while maintaining a visible runway and editorial character. A significant business challenge occurred in 2009, when the company encountered financial difficulties. Teis and Bjørn Werring Bruun invested in the brand and became co-owners. This brought additional ownership and business involvement while preserving the founders’ creative role. In 2019, the ownership structure changed substantially when Verdane, a Swedish private-equity firm, acquired 51 percent from the founders and the Bruun brothers. The founders and Bruun interests continued after the transaction, with Teis Werring Bruun identified in Danish business-register information as chief executive officer and co-owner. The brand expanded its physical retail presence in Copenhagen with a flagship store on Vognmagergade, which opened in February 2010. The interior was developed in collaboration with Danish creative studios Femmes Regionales and All The Way To Paris. The store operates close to the company’s headquarters on Amaliegade and serves as a local expression of the label’s visual identity. International distribution became an increasingly important part of the business. By 2025, Baum und Pferdgarten reported sales or distribution in more than 30 countries through about 400 retail outlets, supplemented by online commerce. Its international visibility has also been supported by public figures wearing its designs, including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The company has extended its activities beyond standard seasonal collections. During the pandemic in 2020, it created Back to Back Artist Collaboration, a digital project designed to support seven emerging visual artists. The participating artists were inspired by Jane Freilicher and Jane Wilson, connecting the brand’s fashion activity with contemporary visual culture. The founders later discussed a design philosophy attentive to diversity in age, body type, gender, and ethnicity. Collaborative product development continued with the 2024 Etonic capsule. The project reworked Etonic’s Kendrai and Dropshot sneakers in new colourways and was introduced through the autumn/winter 2024 runway before its September online release. In 2025, the “Heartbeats” autumn/winter collection used an industrial parking-garage setting and large red inflatable hearts as its presentation environment. The collection combined suiting, sequins, and practical outerwear and was described as drawing on both contemporary style references and traditional countryside dressing. Baum und Pferdgarten remains an active Copenhagen fashion house with a broad international retail and digital footprint.

• 2025

  Heartbeats autumn/winter collection is presented

  [2]Vogue Scandinaviavoguescandinavia.com

  The collection is staged in a parking garage and combines suiting, sequins, and functional outerwear.

• 2024

  Etonic sneaker capsule is released

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  A collaboration with Etonic produces updated Kendrai and Dropshot sneakers, released online in September after runway presentation.

• 2020

  Back to Back Artist Collaboration launches

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  The brand creates a digital artist-support initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic involving seven emerging visual artists.

• 2019

  Verdane acquires a majority stake

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  Verdane purchases 51 percent of the company from the founders and the Bruun brothers.

• 2010

  Copenhagen flagship store opens

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  The brand opens its flagship store on Vognmagergade in February, with an interior developed alongside Femmes Regionales and All The Way To Paris.

• 2009

  Bruun brothers invest in the company

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  Following financial difficulties, Teis and Bjørn Werring Bruun invest in Baum und Pferdgarten and become co-owners.

• 1999

  Baum und Pferdgarten is founded in Copenhagen

  [1]Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org

  Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave establish the fashion house after meeting at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Contemporary Danish fashion with a playful, expressive approach that combines tailoring, colour, prints, embellishment, and wearable outerwear. The brand presents itself between Scandinavian sophistication and more eclectic, fashion-forward womenswear.

• Ready-to-wear · 1999

  Seasonal womenswear

  The brand’s core offering consists of contemporary womenswear collections spanning dresses, separates, skirts, trousers, knitwear, tailoring, and outerwear. Designs commonly combine practical wardrobe functions with bold colour, prints, embellishment, or unusual proportions.

• Apparel

  Tailoring and suiting

  Tailored jackets, trousers, and coordinated suiting form an important part of the label’s contemporary wardrobe. The brand often offsets structured construction with colour, pattern, decorative detail, or more relaxed styling.

• Collaborative footwear · 2024

  Etonic x Baum und Pferdgarten capsule

  The 2024 capsule with Etonic reinterpreted the Kendrai and Dropshot sneaker models in new colourways, including Silver Lake Blue and Rum Raisin. It was shown during the autumn/winter 2024 runway season and subsequently sold online.

• 2020Back to Back Artist Collaboration

  International · Digital

  A digital initiative created during the COVID-19 pandemic supported seven emerging visual artists. The project drew inspiration from Jane Freilicher and Jane Wilson and connected the fashion brand with contemporary visual culture.

  Outcome. The initiative provided a platform for emerging artists and extended the brand’s activity beyond conventional product marketing.

  Source

• 2024

  The brand enters a sneaker collaboration with EtonicProduct launch

  Background

  Baum und Pferdgarten sought to broaden its fashion proposition through a footwear partnership.

  Action taken

  The company collaborated with Etonic to redesign the Kendrai and Dropshot sneakers and released the capsule online in September.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration added branded footwear to the autumn/winter 2024 product and runway program.

  Source

• 2019

  Verdane takes a 51 percent stakeM&A

  Background

  The founders and the Bruun brothers sought a new ownership arrangement for the fashion house.

  Action taken

  They sold 51 percent of Baum und Pferdgarten to Swedish private-equity firm Verdane.

  Aftermath

  The founding designers and Bruun interests continued as minority owners, with Teis Werring Bruun remaining identified as CEO and co-owner.

  Source

• 2009

  The company brings in new co-owners after financial difficultiesStrategy

  Background

  Baum und Pferdgarten encountered financial difficulties and required additional investment and ownership support.

  Action taken

  Teis and Bjørn Werring Bruun invested in the business and became co-owners while the founding designers remained involved.

  Aftermath

  The investment preceded further organizational development and a later majority-stake transaction with Verdane.

  Source

1. 1Baum und Pferdgartenen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Vogue Scandinaviavoguescandinavia.com
3. 3Baum und Pferdgarten official websitebaumundpferdgarten.com