K-way

K-Way makes packable nylon rainwear, built around the Le Vrai windbreaker: a lightweight, waterproof jacket with a full-length front zip that folds into its own pouch and straps around the waist. Léon-Claude Duhamel invented it in Paris in 1965; the brand declined, then was bought in 2004 by Turin group BasicNet, which also owns Kappa, Superga, Sebago, Briko and Woolrich. Lines now span colour-blocked shells, quilted and padded outerwear, bags and kids' styles. In 2025 Permira took a roughly 40% minority stake valuing K-Way near €190 million; BasicNet keeps about 60% and the brand marked its 60th anniversary with a retrospective book.