Drake Sells Majority Share of OVO Brand to Authentic Brands Group

Authentic Brands Group purchased a controlling stake in October's Very Own intellectual property. Drake co-founded the lifestyle brand but will retain partial ownership. He'll stay involved with creative decisions.

Vince Holding Corp., a longtime Authentic partner, assumes control of day-to-day operations. VNCE will manage product creation, store management, and merchandise sales.

Drake started OVO back in 2008 alongside Oliver El-Khatib and Noah "40" Shebib. They expanded it into clothing and music production by 2012. Since then, the company has launched 12 locations worldwide and collaborated with Jordan, Canada Goose, and Marvel.

"We're just a couple kids from Toronto who started something we believed in. Here we are 20 years later, same kids with bigger dreams," Drake said in a statement shared with Complex. "Authentic and VNCE are the perfect partners to help us continue to grow."

This acquisition positions OVO for possible growth into skateboarding. Authentic owns DC Shoes, Element, and Volcom — three companies with deep roots in skate footwear and apparel.

Sources told ShreddER that OVO might tap into the skateboarding market through clothing lines and athlete partnerships. What the brand already makes — hoodies, jackets, caps — matches what skaters wear on and off their boards.

Jamie Salter founded Authentic. He praised Drake and his crew for building "something with incredible cultural influence" through their work. Salter described the deal as a "significant opportunity" for everyone at the table.

Skateboarding has drawn increased interest from fashion companies in recent years. The sport's Olympic debut expanded its global audience and created new commercial possibilities for skate-inspired clothing.

Authentic plans to push OVO into fresh markets while preserving what Drake and his partners built from scratch. DC, Element, and Volcom give the company knowledge that could bridge OVO with skateboarders around the world.