Fashion retailer Lipsy, which is owned by Next, has signed a deal with Middle Eastern trading house Alhokair to launch franchised stores in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. 

Alhokair already operates franchises for retailers including Gap, Zara, Monsoon and Miss Selfridge. It intends to open 40 Lipsy stores over the next five years.

Lipsy chief executive Jeremy Stakol said, “This is a great opportunity for continued growth and underscores the international appeal of our brand.”

Alhokair fashion retail chief executive Simon Marshall said “We have ambitious growth plans to develop Lipsy within the region and believe their unique handwriting, glamorous fashion outlook and continuous celebrity endorsement will be a success within our markets”.

Lipsy already sells internationally through stores including Bloomingdales, Robinsons in Singapore and will soon be in Myer in Australia.