Luxury brand group Marchpole has signed a joint venture and strategic licensing agreement with Donna Karan International (DKI) to design and distribute DKNY menswear.
The first collection will launch next spring under the DKNY Black label. Marchpole will target high-end department stores and independent retailers to stock the collection.
It will also be in DKNY’s 60 standalone stores worldwide.
The sportswear portion of the DKNY men’s clothing line will be distributed in North America, Europe, Africa, the South Pacific, Middle East and Asia.
The agreement is for an initial period of seven years, with an option to extend the licence for an additional seven years.
The joint venture will be operated by a new company, of which 90 per cent will be owned by Marchpole and 10 per cent will be owned by DKI. DKI chief executive Mark Weber will be on the board of the new company.
Marchpole executive deputy chairman Michael Morris said: “I am delighted that we have reached this agreement with the very prestigious DKI, part of the Louis Vuitton Group, and that we will have the opportunity to expand our business in the highly lucrative Far East and Middle East markets.”
Yesterday, Marchpole posted a loss of£6.1 million for the year to April 5, compared with a profit of£6.3 million the year before.
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