DBGI Outlines Expansion Plan for the Estimated $36 Billion NIL College Apparel Market with University of Alabama Partnership as Foothold
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) has announced its strategic expansion into the $36.4 billion NIL college apparel market through a partnership with the University of Alabama. The company has secured an exclusive three-year private label manufacturing agreement with Yea Alabama, the university's official NIL program.
The partnership includes designing, manufacturing, and distributing collegiate apparel through University of Alabama bookstores and Yea Alabama's online platform. DBGI plans to release new capsule collections in October, November, and December 2025. The company aims to replicate this model with other universities, offering private label manufacturing advantages, equity partnerships, and support for female student athletes, with 20% of purchases supporting female NIL athletes.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) ha annunciato l'espansione strategica nel mercato da 36,4 miliardi di dollari NIL dell'abbigliamento universitario attraverso una partnership con l'Università dell'Alabama. L'azienda ha assicurato un accordo esclusivo di tre anni per la produzione in private label con Yea Alabama, il programma NIL ufficiale dell'ateneo.
La partnership comprende la progettazione, la produzione e la distribuzione di abbigliamento accademico attraverso le librerie dell'Università dell'Alabama e la piattaforma online di Yea Alabama. DBGI prevede di rilasciare nuove collezioni capsule entro ottobre, novembre e dicembre 2025. L'azienda intende replicare questo modello con altre università, offrendo vantaggi della produzione in private label, partnership di capitale e supporto agli atleti studentesse, con il 20% degli acquisti a sostegno delle atlete NIL femminili.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) ha anunciado su expansión estratégica al mercado NIL de ropa universitaria, valorado en 36,4 mil millones de dólares, mediante una asociación con la Universidad de Alabama. La empresa ha asegurado un acuerdo exclusivo de fabricación de etiqueta privada de tres años con Yea Alabama, el programa NIL oficial de la universidad.
La asociación incluye el diseño, la fabricación y la distribución de ropa universitaria a través de las librerías de la Universidad de Alabama y la plataforma en línea de Yea Alabama. DBGI tiene previsto lanzar nuevas colecciones cápsula en octubre, noviembre y diciembre de 2025. La compañía busca replicar este modelo con otras universidades, ofreciendo ventajas de fabricación de etiqueta privada, asociaciones de capital y apoyo a las atletas estudiantiles, con el 20% de las compras apoyando a las atletas NIL femeninas.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI)가 University of Alabama와의 파트너십을 통해 364억 달러 규모의 NIL 대학 의류 시장으로 전략적 확장을 발표했습니다. 이 회사는 대학의 공식 NIL 프로그램인 Yea Alabama와 3년간 독점 프라이빗 라벨 제조 계약을 체결했습니다.
파트너십은 앨라배마 대학교 서점과 Yea Alabama의 온라인 플랫폼을 통해 대학 의류를 디자인, 제조 및 유통하는 것을 포함합니다. DBGI는 2025년 10월, 11월, 12월에 새로운 캡슐 컬렉션을 출시할 예정입니다. 이 회사는 이 모델을 다른 대학들로 확장하여 프라이빗 라벨 제조의 이점과 지분 파트너십, 여성 학생 선수 지원을 제공하고, 구매의 20%를 여성 NIL 선수 지원에 할당할 예정입니다.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) a annoncé son expansion stratégique sur le marché NIL des vêtements universitaires, évalué à 36,4 milliards de dollars, grâce à un partenariat avec l'Université de l'Alabama. L'entreprise a obtenu un accord exclusif de fabrication sous marque privée de trois ans avec Yea Alabama, le programme NIL officiel de l'université.
Le partenariat comprend la conception, la fabrication et la distribution de vêtements universitaires par les librairies de l'Université de l'Alabama et la plateforme en ligne de Yea Alabama. DBGI prévoit de lancer de nouvelles collections capsules en octobre, novembre et décembre 2025. La société vise à reproduire ce modèle avec d'autres universités, offrant les avantages de la fabrication sous marque privée, des partenariats en capital et un soutien aux athlètes féminines, avec 20 % des achats au profit des athlètes NIL féminines.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) hat seine strategische Expansion in den 36,4 Milliarden Dollar schweren NIL-College-Bekleidungsmarkt durch eine Partnerschaft mit der University of Alabama bekannt gegeben. Das Unternehmen hat eine exklusive dreijährige Private-Label-Fertigungsvereinbarung mit Yea Alabama, dem offiziellen NIL-Programm der Universität, gesichert.
Die Partnerschaft umfasst Entwurf, Herstellung und Vertrieb von College-Bekleidung über die Buchhandlungen der University of Alabama und die Online-Plattform von Yea Alabama. DBGI plant die Einführung neuer Capsule-Kollektionen im Oktober, November und Dezember 2025. Das Unternehmen beabsichtigt, dieses Modell mit weiteren Universitäten zu replizieren, und bietet Vorteile der Private-Label-Fertigung, Eigenkapitalpartnerschaften und Unterstützung für weibliche Studentinnen-Athletinnen, wobei 20 % der Einkäufe weibliche NIL-Athletinnen unterstützen.
Digital Brands Group (NASDAQ:DBGI) أعلنت عن توسيعها الاستراتيجي نحو سوق NIL للملابس الجامعية بقيمة 36.4 مليار دولار من خلال شراكة مع جامعة ألاباما. وضمنت الشركة اتفاق تصنيع بالعلامة الخاصة حصري لمدة ثلاث سنوات مع Yea Alabama، البرنامج NIL الرسمي للجامعة.
تشمل الشراكة تصميم الملابس الجامعية وتصنيعها وتوزيعها عبر مكتبات جامعة ألاباما والمنصة عبر الإنترنت لـ Yea Alabama. تخطط DBGI لإطلاق مجموعات كبسول جديدة في أكتوبر، نوفمبر، وديسمبر 2025. وتهدف الشركة إلى تكرار هذا النموذج مع جامعات أخرى، مع توفير مزايا التصنيع بالعلامة الخاصة، وشراكات رأس مال، ودعم للرياضيات الطالبات، مع تخصيص 15% من المشتريات لدعم رياضيات NIL من الطالبات.
Digital Brands Group（纳斯达克股票代码：DBGI）宣布通过与阿拉巴马大学的合作，在价值 364亿美元 的 NIL 大学服装市场实现战略扩张。公司已与 Yea Alabama 签订为期三年的独家私标签制造协议，这是该校官方 NIL 项目。
该伙伴关系包括通过阿拉巴马大学书店和 Yea Alabama 的在线平台设计、制造和分发大学服装。DBGI计划在 2025 年 10 月、11 月和 12 月推出新的胶囊系列。公司旨在将此模式推广到其他大学，提供私标签制造的优势、股权伙伴关系，并支持女性学生运动员，购买的 20% 将用于支持女性 NIL 运动员。
- Exclusive three-year manufacturing agreement with University of Alabama's NIL program
- Entry into $36.4 billion NIL college apparel market with projected growth to $49 billion by 2030
- Direct-to-consumer, data-driven scalable business model
- Potential expansion to additional universities with equity partnership structure
- High dependence on successful execution of University of Alabama partnership
- Competitive market with established incumbent providers
- Success contingent on securing additional university partnerships
Insights
DBGI launching strategic expansion into $36B NIL college apparel market with University of Alabama deal serving as blueprint for growth.
Digital Brands Group is executing a calculated entry into the lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness college apparel market through a three-year exclusive manufacturing agreement with Yea Alabama, the University of Alabama's official NIL program. This partnership serves as their strategic foothold in a market valued at
The business model is particularly compelling for three reasons. First, it's structured as a private label manufacturing arrangement where DBGI controls the entire value chain—designing, producing, and distributing collegiate apparel through university bookstores and online platforms. Second, they've created a shared equity arrangement with the university, aligning incentives in a way traditional apparel providers cannot match. Third, they've incorporated a social impact element by directing
What makes this approach strategically significant is its scalability. DBGI has already launched initial and September capsule collections, with additional collections planned through December 2025. More importantly, they're actively pursuing similar arrangements with other universities using the Alabama agreement as their template. Their self-described "Warby Parker of collegiate apparel" approach leverages direct-to-consumer channels and data analytics to enable more responsive product development than traditional competitors.
The NIL collegiate market represents a timely opportunity for DBGI, as recent regulatory changes have created an entirely new commercial ecosystem within college athletics that established players haven't fully optimized. By positioning themselves with this differentiated business model at this market's early stage, DBGI could potentially capture significant market share if they successfully replicate the Alabama partnership across multiple university programs.
Austin, Texas, Sept. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DBGI) (the “Company” or “Digital Brands”), today announces the launch of its strategic initiative to aggressively expand the Company’s presence in the Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) college apparel sector, a segment currently part of the global licensed sports merchandise market, which was estimated at
Expansion Strategy & Competitive Positioning
DBGI’s launchpad into the NIL-college apparel space is its newly signed exclusive three-year private label manufacturing agreement with Yea Alabama, the official NIL program of the University of Alabama. Under this agreement, DBGI will exclusively design, manufacture, and distribute collegiate apparel under private label through University of Alabama bookstores and Yea Alabama’s online storefront (https://store.yea-alabama.com/collections/avo).
The initial product line, as well as the September product capsule, is available now at both the bookstore and (https://store.yea-alabama.com/collections/avo). The Company is planning to release new capsule collections will in October, November and December 2025.
“We believe that we have created the Warby Parker of collegiate apparel, with a focus on a direct-to-consumer (DTC), data-driven scalable model,” said Hil Davis, CEO of Digital Brands Group.
Next Phase
The Company is in discussions to expand this strategy with additional universities by building on the model set forth under the Alabama agreement. Each partnership will mirror the Alabama structure, offering universities:
1. Private Label Manufacturing Advantage — DBGI designs, produces, and delivers high quality collegiate apparel directly through university-owned channels at a lower price than traditional offerings.
2. Equity Alignment — Like Alabama, each university becomes an equity partner in DBGI, creating a unique alignment of interests and providing upside participation that competitors cannot offer.
3. Supports female student athletes —
4. Agility and Consumer Data — By leveraging a nimble supply chain and direct customer data, DBGI can deliver faster, more trend-responsive collections compared to incumbent providers.
About Digital Brands Group
We offer a wide variety of apparel through numerous brands on a both direct-to-consumer and wholesale basis. We have created a business model derived from our founding as a digitally native-first vertical brand. We focus on owning the customer's "closet share" by leveraging their data and purchase history to create personalized targeted content and looks for that specific customer cohort.
Digital Brands Group, Inc. Company Contact
Hil Davis, CEO
Email: invest@digitalbrandsgroup.co
https://ir.digitalbrandsgroup.co
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements included in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting DBG and therefore involve several risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “should,” and “may” and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates, however, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements regarding DBG’s plans, objectives, projections and expectations relating to DBG’s operations or financial performance, and assumptions related thereto are forward-looking statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. DBG undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of DBG to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: DBG’s ability to implement the strategies and drive the results expected with respect to its Alabama partnership; DBG’s ability to replicate and expand on the Alabama model with additional universities; the level of consumer demand for apparel and accessories; disruption to DBGs distribution system; the financial strength of DBG’s customers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; DBG’s response to changing fashion trends, evolving consumer preferences and changing patterns of consumer behavior; intense competition from online retailers; manufacturing and product innovation; increasing pressure on margins; DBG’s ability to implement its business strategy; DBG’s ability to grow its wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses; retail industry changes and challenges; DBG’s and its vendors’ ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; the risk that DBG’s facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to and unable to anticipate or detect data security breaches and data or financial loss; DBG’s ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; stability of DBG’s manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; continued use by DBG’s suppliers of ethical business practices; DBG’s ability to accurately forecast demand for products; continuity of members of DBG’s management; DBG’s ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; possible goodwill and other asset impairment; DBG’s ability to execute and integrate acquisitions; changes in tax laws and liabilities; legal, regulatory, political and economic risks; adverse or unexpected weather conditions; DBG's indebtedness and its ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, if needed, could prevent DBG from fulfilling its financial obligations; and climate change and increased focus on sustainability issues. More information on potential factors that could affect DBG’s financial results is included from time to time in DBG’s public reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including DBG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Forms 8-K, each filed or furnished with the SEC.
FAQ
What is Digital Brands Group's (DBGI) new partnership with the University of Alabama?
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