Lacoste and Samsonite to end partnership
Fashion brand Lacoste and luggage specialists Samsonite are to discontinue their partnership on leather goods after nearly 10 years.
Samsonite will continue to work on all marketing and commercial activities for Lacoste’s Spring/ Summer 2010 and Fall/Winter 2010 leather goods collections and will ensure a smooth transition of the licence to the Devanlay Group, who will take over the partnership in January 2011.
The decision was made by Lacoste in order to reinforce its partnership with the Devanlay Group and to launch a new up-market leather goods product.
Samsonite will devote more energy to its core business: the travel and business dimension.
In order to develop this licence, which will last until 2023, Devanlay has created a joint venture, named Cemalac, with up-market leather goods specialist Tolomei French Group.
Samsonite has been worldwide partner to Lacoste for its leather goods since 2001.
Christophe Chenut, chief executive of Lacoste, says: “Devanlay is Lacoste’s historical partner and we are happy that our collaboration will be reinforced through the granting of this new licence.”
