Kurt Geiger and Nine West have begun a partnership in the UK and Ireland for Kurt Geiger to license and distribute the US group’s Nine West and Easy Spirit brands.

Nine West had been distributed in the UK via the Shoe Studio Group, which was owned by the Mosaic Group until it went into administration. Shoe Studio has now been bought by shoe chain Dune but the licensing agreement it had with Nine West has ended.

Nine West is sold in 200 concessions in the UK and Ireland, although its 14 standalone stores have closed. Kurt Geiger will take advantage of more favourable property deals to find a location for a new flagship store, which it hopes to open by next spring.

In an interview with Footwear News, Kurt Geiger chief executive Neil Clifford said: “Nine West fits beautifully into our hierarchy.”

Kurt Geiger will also sell the two brands in its stores nationwide. It will recruit a dedicated Nine West team for its London headquarters.