Crystal Clear
DKNY will expand its fashion jewelry imprint through a partnership with The
Swarovski Group.
The brand, a subsidiary of
G-III Apparel since late 2016, has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with the Austrian gem purveyor.
The resulting DKNY jewelry will be available in all international markets except for North America and is set for a September 2019 retail launch.
The collection will include necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings — all priced at under 99 euros. There will be two collections issued per year.
“Swarovski's superior craftsmanship, rich legacy and dedication to creating beautiful and attainable luxury accessories make [it] an ideal partner for the DKNY brand's international launch into jewelry. “We look forward to growing the category with this iconic brand as our partner, and to continuing to extend the global reach of DKNY to consumers worldwide,” said Jeff Goldfarb, executive vice president for G-III Apparel Group.
“It is with great excitement that we enter into this partnership with DKNY. A truly iconic brand that is synonymous with modern fashion, the collection was developed with innovative designs, clever use of Swarovski crystals, and unparalleled attention to detail which perfectly reflects the dynamic energy of DKNY,” said Markus Langes-Swarovski, a member of Swarovski's board.
DKNY is developing an elevated fashion jewelry collection as well.
— MISTY WHITE SIDELL the launch of its first collection next summer, Kering chairman and chief executive officer François-Henri Pinault said in an interview with Le Figaro.
Under Michele's artistic direction, the luxury powerhouse has been fueling soaring growth at Kering, which also owns high-end jeweler Boucheron and watch label Girard-Perregaux, along with a broad stable of fashion brands.
“The large names in ready-towear turn to high jewelry when they feel ready. You need maturity in order to approach this sector,” Pinault said, according to the French daily.
The 200 pieces of jewelry from the debut collection will be made in Italy and infused with colored stones, he added.
“The extraordinarily rich and quite unique universe of Alessandro Michele lends itself well today [to the realm of high jewelry]. The jewelry sets he is creating for Gucci will take their place naturally on the market,” Pinault predicted.
The sector stands out as a “very special category” in the market for luxury goods, Luca Solca, head luxury analyst with Exane BNP Paribas wrote in a recent research note. The analyst expects luxury labels to expand their business in the category, with growth in demand supported by multiple factors.
Gucci ceo Marco Bizzarri, at an investor day in June, set a medium-term goal for the brand to reach 10 billion euros in annual revenues.
The label, which pioneered fashion watches in the Seventies, has infused its fashion jewelry with house references from Michele's extravagant styles.
— MIMOSA SPENCER