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Leading Italian eyewear company Marcolin SpA and French fashion house Balenciaga today announced that they had reached a general agreement, paving the way to signing an exclusive licence contract for the design, production and distribution worldwide of sunglasses and prescription eyewear collections with the Balenciaga brand.
The agreement is for a period of five years renewable for an additional ten, and the first collection will be presented during 2013.
The news follows the related announcement that Safilo Group had decided not to extend its eyewear license agreement with Balenciaga.
“Both parties are committed to continuing the negotiations under way to define all aspects of the contract that is expected to be finalised within 31 March 2012,” Marcolin said in a press release.
Marcolin Group Style & Licensing Officer Maurizio Marcolin commented: “We are especially proud and excited to announce this agreement and to be able to work with Maison Balenciaga and its Creative Director, Nicolas Ghesquière – one of the top fashion names in the PPR group.
“This new licence will reinforce our mission: to create, produce and market products with unique, unmistakeable and top-quality design. We are a successful partner who knows how to interpret the values and exalt the DNA of this brand through their eyewear. Balenciaga is a perfect fit for our brand portfolio and broadens the luxury market that we target.”
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Balenciaga President and CEO Isabelle Guichot said: “This agreement with Marcolin SpA echoes our conviction with Nicolas Ghesquière that eyewear is definitely an essential fashion accessory which must be translated and marketed as such respecting brand vocabulary and iconic codes.
“This remains our ambition for the coming partnership and we will be fully committed to closely collaborate with Marcolin as we’ve been witnessing their ability to interpret brands in different segments always with accuracy and consistency.”
About Marcolin
Marcolin, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, is a leading eyewear company in the luxury and premium market. In 2010 the company distributed an estimated 5.5 million pairs of glasses and sunglasses in more than 800 models. Its licensed brand portfolio includes Diesel Shades, DSquared2 Eyewear, Hogan Eyewear, John Galliano Eyewear, Just Cavalli Eyewear, Roberto Cavalli Eyewear, Swarovski, Tod’s Eyewear and Tom Ford Eyewear. The group’s own brands include Marcolin and Web Eyewear.
About Balenciaga
Balenciaga is one of the most influential forces in fashion and has been part of French luxury goods group PPR since 2001. Founded in 1919 by Cristóbal Balenciaga and established in Paris in 1936, it defined many of the greatest movements in fashion from the 1930s to the 1960s. Through innovative design and vision, mastery of cut and technique, combined with constant research in fabrics, Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière seeks to infuse the founder’s legacy with a modern edge.
While the brand’s identity is anchored in its ready-to-wear collections, the leathergoods, shoe and accessories lines have also enjoyed worldwide success. The women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections span a wide price range, opening Balenciaga’s style up to a wider market. Starting with exclusive distribution channels, the brand has now shifted its focus to directly operated stores (69 to date) and e-commerce, as well as through franchises and points of sale in leading multi-brand shops worldwide.
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