The Armani Group announced today that it has awarded Safilo S.p.A. a multi-year license for the worldwide production and distribution of its Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani eyewear collections.
Giorgio Armani, President and Chief Executive of the Armani Group said, ''The Group's overriding business philosophy has always been focused on offering distinctive collections, characterised by designs of the highest quality, that are distributed through carefully selected retail locations offering the best standards of customer service.'' Armani continued, '' The decision to select Safilo as our new licensee reflects our ongoing commitment to the pursuit of these principles. Safilo has a formidable reputation within the designer eyewear sector based on the excellence of its manufacturing capabilities and on its unique understanding of appropriate distribution channels. Through this new collaboration we will be ensuring that we can implement policies and choices, which will clearly distinguish our respective Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani eyewear collections in the marketplace. I am therefore extremely confident we are moving forward with a partner that is responsive to our strategic requirements and shares a common understanding for the future growth and development of our eyewear brands.''
Vittorio Tabacchi, President of the Safilo Group said, ''Giorgio Armani is rightly recognised as one of the world's great designers. He has been instrumental in defining a fashion and lifestyle aesthetic to which both women and men aspire, through a diverse range of versatile and coherent collections from formal wear to jeans. Nowhere is this influence more evident than in the designer eyewear category where his Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani collections are among the leading brands. Safilo is honoured to have been selected by the Armani Group to further capitalise on the future potential of these brands. Tabacchi continued, ''Our immediate priorities will be to gear up swiftly for the production of the new Spring / Summer 2003 collections, to refine the distribution strategies for each of the lines and to increase our investments in a way that effectively and appropriately supports our customers.''
Under the terms of the new license agreement Safilo will distribute its first Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani collections to retail stores from May onwards, following a preview at the Mido international eyewear industry trade fair in Milan in the first days of May.
The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and design groups in the world today. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, home furnishings and fragrances and cosmetics, under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Mani, Emporio Armani, AJ|Armani Jeans, Armani Junior, A/X Armani Exchange and Armani Casa. The Group's exclusive retail network currently comprises 57 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 115 Emporio Armani stores, 66 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 10 Armani Jeans stores, 5 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessory store and 12 Armani Casa stores in 35 countries.
Contact: Robert Triefus
Armani Group
Tel: (39) 02 723181