Luxottica acquires Stella McCartney licence

Nicole Mezzasalma

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The Italian eyewear company has signed an exclusive deal to produce and distribute Stella McCartney sunglasses worldwide

Luxury eyewear group Luxottica has announced it has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement to produce and distribute sunglasses under the Stella McCartney licence from January 1 2009. The deal is for an initial term of six years, renewable for another five years, and the first collection is scheduled to be launched in summer 2009.

Stella McCartney president and CEO Marco Bizzarri said: “The new agreement is designed to extend the presence of Stella McCartney eyewear in the market and to increase the brand’s international development. We are particularly pleased to work with Luxottica, the leading company in the sector, and will combine our experience and expertise to make it a particularly strong partnership.”

Luxottica CEO Andrea Guerra added: “We are extremely pleased with the new partnership with Stella McCartney and Gucci Group. She is one of the most renowned and respected young talents of the new generation of fashion designers. The values that her brand stands for are a perfect fit for our brand portfolio and an important step toward strengthening its offer.”

The companies said that the new Stella McCartney sunglasses collection will be distributed through premium retail locations, starting with Stella McCartney stores and exclusive doors in North America, Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East.