PacMutual Building
K-Swiss Moving Headquarters to Historic Downtown Los Angeles
K-Swiss for years has had its headquarters in Westlake Village, which straddles Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
But the shoe manufacturer, originally known for its leather tennis shoes, is moving down the highway and into new headquarters in the historic PacMutual building on Sixth Street. The building, which is really three interconnected buildings constructed between 1908 and 1926, is already the headquarters for online clothing concern Nasty Gal, which has more than 50,000 of creative space in the complex.
This is a big move for the shoe maker, which was acquired three years ago by Korean-based E.Land Group. "As our organization grows, we feel there will be an intrinsic benefit to immersing in the progressive culture of downtown Los Angeles," said Truman Kim, chairman and chief executive of K-Swiss Global Brands. "Our new location will afford us a better opportunity to identify market trends where they happen."
K-Swiss will be moved in by the beginning of next year. Initial plans include global offices and dedicated showrooms for each brand as well as an innovative design facility.
K-Swiss was founded 50 years ago by two Swiss brothers who moved to California to make tennis shoes. The brand has grown to include a number of lifestyle brands such as Palladium, PLDM, OTZ Shoes, Supra Footwear and the KR3W Denim Co.
