New York, NY (June 17, 2011) - Valentino SpA officially announced today a newly signed global license agreement with Marchon, one of the world’s most prominent eyewear companies. The exclusive license will grant Marchon the rights to manufacture and distribute the sun and ophthalmic collections under the legendary Valentino brand. The agreement will be effective from 1st January 2012, making the beginning of a long-term partnership between these two global players in the luxury business.
Stefano Sassi, Chairman and CEO of Valentino SpA stated, “With this agreement, our Maison has an opportunity to develop an intimate working relationship with a licensing partner known for its finesse and attention to detail. Marchon is the ideal partner, with great experience in the luxury market and a dedication to distributing the highest quality eyewear. This agreement is an essential step forward in Valentino’s development strategy. We are enthusiastically beginning what we expect will be a long-term successful relationship in this category.”
The Valentino Eyewear collection will embody the timeless elegance of the Valentino brand, taking inspiration from their seasonal RTW collection, accessories and iconic pieces that showcase the flawless use of materials, textures, colors and prints.
Claudio Gottardi, Marchon President and CEO said, “Valentino is a renowned fashion house. This is an exciting partnership we are embarking on and we’re enthusiastic to work closely with Valentino on the upcoming collections. The addition of Valentino, one of the most prestigious and luxury fashion houses, represents our dedication to expanding our international brand portfolio.”
The Valentino collections will be sold in Valentino boutiques, department and specialty stores, and select optical stores worldwide.
# # #
|
About Valentino SpA
Valentino S.p.a. is part of the Valentino Fashion Group, owner of the licensee for the MCS Marlboro Classics and M Missoni brands. The group is now owned by Permira private equity fund, the Marzotto family and their partners.
Established in 1960 by legendary fashion icon Valentino Garavani, the Maison has grown over the years and now operates in more than 70 different countries counting over 1250 points of sale, 66 of which are directly managed.
Since October 2008 Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have been appointed Valentino Creative Directors. Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo previously worked in close contact with Valentino Garavani for a decade, contributing to the international success of the accessories project. Debuting with their first Haute Couture collection in Paris in January 2009, they demonstrated the ability to fully understand and interpret the world of Valentino. Their creativity was well-received right from the start, obtaining unanimous approval in the world of fashion. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s strong leadership style, their professional and creative approach - highly characteristic of Valentino’s corporate identity - joined to their extremely talented in-house team of designers, allowed them to make the most of Valentino’s iconic style.
One of the best known fashion brands worldwide, Valentino offers a wide range of luxury products from Haute Couture and Prêt-à-Porter to an extensive accessories collection that includes bags, shoes, small leather goods, belts, fragrances and watches.
Additional information is available on the web at www.valentino.com. |
