MILAN — Canali has named Andrea Pompilio to be in charge of its entire collection, beginning with the fall 2015 season, which will be shown in Milan on Jan. 19.
In a somewhat surprising move, Canali last year tapped Pompilio, known for his bright prints and patterns, to design a capsule collection for spring 2014. Now he will oversee the brand’s full collection.
“We have a great relationship on a personal level, and we are entirely in sync,” said Stefano Canali, general manager of the Italian firm, also underscoring Pompilio’s “respect for our group’s culture and dynamics.” Canali noted that the company’s evolution, “while remaining consistent” with its history, was almost five years in the making, as necessary changes were made to its production, commercial and management structure.
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The U.S., which has been Canali’s main market for 20 years and today accounts for a third of the company’s business, was also receptive to Pompilio’s arrival. “It’s a region that appreciates news and dynamism, and not many expected this move from us in America,” admitted Canali. “The U.S. will continue to be a driving market for us in 2015.”
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The company plans to open stores in Washington in April, Las Vegas in June and in Houston in September.
Other units scheduled to open in 2015 are in Shanghai, Macau, China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Last year, stores opened in Chengdu, China; Kolkata, India; Guiyang, China; Chongqing, China; Hong Kong; Beijing; Atlanta; St. Petersburg; Madrid; Zhangjiagang, China, and Novosibirsk, Russia.
Canali closed 2013 with global sales of 214 million euros, or $282.5 million at average exchange, and expects to close 2014 with single-digit growth, said the executive. Retail accounts for 25 percent of revenues.
A sprawling 14,040-square-foot showroom and 6,480-square-foot office space are to be inaugurated in Milan this month, located in the city’s hot Porta Nuova hub. Also, the firm is investing in a new state-of-the-art warehouse that includes a photography studio in Sovico, half-an-hour north of Milan, in front of its headquarters, which will be completed in mid-2015.