NEW YORK — Liz Claiborne Inc. has taken another step in its global expansion via an agreement with MAF Fashion LLC, a division of the Majid Al Futtaim Group in Dubai, to distribute select Claiborne brands throughout the Middle East.
The deal, which will be managed through Claiborne’s Mexx Europe Holding BV division, will allow MAF to assume responsibility for Liz Claiborne, Mexx, Lucky Brand and Monet brands, which are currently distributed through the area in about 60 freestanding retail locations as well as in department stores. The deal will bring these brands under the distribution of one firm, rather than the various local partners with whom the company now does business. The strategy will enable these brands to be distributed through the Middle East, Pakistan, North Africa and the Levant region. With this new partnership, the company hopes to expand other brands through the region.
“MAF is a fantastic group and we see tremendous opportunity with them in this part of the world,” said Trudy Sullivan, president of Liz Claiborne Inc. “Mexx and Liz Claiborne will expand even further and we are looking to move quickly with the expansion of Lucky Brand and Juicy Couture. We are aggressive with our global expansion plan and we are certain that MAF will be able to work with us at the pace we are looking to expand.”
Sullivan said Claiborne has plans in place to aggressively expand globally over the next year. “It’s an important objective for us,” she said. “We are already growing rapidly through Canada and Mexico, and we see Mexx as a great platform for us to launch new brands all over the world.”
Majid Al Futtaim Group is involved in real estate development, hotel and leisure activities, hypermarket development and financial asset management throughout the region.