 |
Felipe Oliveira Baptista takes over as Creative Director of Lacoste this week |
FRANCE. Felipe Oliveira Baptista has been named the new Creative Director of French casual sportswear brand Lacoste, effective 1 September 2010.
A graduate of Kingston University, winner of the Hyeres Festival prize and two-time winner of the ANDAM prize, the Portuguese designer was invited to join the official Couture calendar in 2005. He has been presenting his ready-to-wear collections at Paris Fashion Week since 2009.
“Baptista’s outgoing personality, his great sense of colour and his undoubted talent to project Lacoste brand codes in the future will be key to the ongoing renewal of the Lacoste core sportswear and asserting the identity of new product lines such as Lacoste L!VE,” the company said in a press release.
“Heading an enhanced studio, the new Creative Director will serve the brand using his creative vision and contemporary interpretation of the female look, thus reinforcing the position of the collections,” it added.
Baptista’s first collection will be presented for Spring/Summer 2012.
The new appointment follows last June’s announcement of a new group strategy aimed at renewing the Lacoste brand and finding fresh growth opportunities.
New partner for Lacoste eyewear
In other news, Lacoste has announced a change of partnership for eyewear, with Marchon Eyewear Inc taking over the licence from Charmant, effective January 2011. Charmant became the worldwide licensee in 2006.
“We are grateful to Charmant for their help in building this business and for reinforcing the Lacoste brand in the eyewear market,” said Lacoste SA CEO Christophe Chenut. “Now we are starting a new phase of the Lacoste accessories’ development with Marchon Eyewear Inc. With Marchon’s great expertise in design and R&D, Lacoste will accentuate the innovative and fashion attributes of its eyewear lines. Simultaneously, the crocodile brand will strengthen the global distribution of its eyewear through Marchon’s worldwide network.”
Marchon will design, produce and sell the sunwear and optical collections under the control of Lacoste SA. The new collections will debut at retail in January 2011 and will be presented at the Lacoste Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show in September 2010.
The debut collection will include 48 sunglass styles.
About Lacoste
Founded in 1933, the Lacoste brand is built on its sporting roots, offering a wide range of products for men, women and children. Lacoste SA co-ordinates nine worldwide licences granted to various partners: apparel, footwear, fragrances, leathergoods, eyewear, watches, home textiles, belts, mobile phones and fashion jewellery. The brand achieved a wholesale turnover of €1.4bn in 2009 and is present in 114 countries. Visit www.lacoste.com
About Devanlay
Devanlay Group, a 35% shareholder in Lacoste SA, is the worldwide licensee for the creation, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of Lacoste apparel. The group sells Lacoste apparel products in 100 countries either through its subsidiaries (Germany, Austria, Canada, US, France, Japan, Switzerland) or through joint ventures (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, South Korea, Italy, UK) or though local independent distributors. The group employs 7,520 and owns production units in France, Peru, China, North Africa and Romania. Devanlay Group manages 1,100 Lacoste shops across the world.
About Marchon Eyewear Inc
Marchon Eyewear Inc is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear. The company markets its products under prestigious brands, including Calvin Klein, ck, Coach, Diane von Furstenberg, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld, Marchon and Michael Kors. Headquartered in New York, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Tokyo, Marchon distributes its products through local sales offices in 100 countries.
Advertisement |
