ITOCHU Announces Acquisition of Exclusive Import and Sales Rights for U.S. Brand Elizabeth and James

June 25, 2013

ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has acquired the exclusive rights to import and sell in the Japanese market the contemporary brand Elizabeth and James, which is enjoying high popularity in New York. ITOCHU will begin selling Elizabeth and James products through the CORONET CORPORATION (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Shigeaki Chiba, President; hereinafter “Coronet”), commencing with the 2014 Spring-Summer season.

The Elizabeth and James brand is a contemporary ladieswear brand founded in 2007 by former actress twins Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen. Based in New York, the brand is now sold in more than 30 countries.

The Elizabeth and James brand represents an exquisite balance between the opposing elements of uptown, sophisticated femininity and downtown, casual masculinity. Its extensive collection of clothing, leather goods, eyewear, footwear, and accessories that incorporate trendy fashion woven through with the sensibilities of its founders offers a style that is chic while at the same time lending itself easily to everyday wear, gaining the support of Hollywood celebrities and other women with high fashion sense.

In 2009, only two years after establishing the brand, the Designers Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen were chosen as members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a great honor for designers working in the United States. In 2012, they received the 2012 Women’ wear Designer of the Year award in the CFDA Fashion Awards, presented to designers who have excelled in the fashion arena. Having achieved steady growth as a contemporary brand in only five years since its establishment, today the brand is extending its influence not only in the United States but worldwide, especially in famous department stores, specialty stores, and selected shops, such as Bergdolf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Opening Ceremony.

Joining others such as LANVIN, Nina Ricci, MILLY, and THE ROW already sold in the Japanese market through Coronet, the brand will be sold mainly in department stores and specialty stores nationwide, as a contemporary brand to watch closely targeted at women with high fashion sense in their 20s to 40s. The brand aims to achieve retail sales of one billion yen in three years’ time.

Retail Sales Price Range for Main Items

Coats           60,000 yen to 120,000 yen
Jackets         50,000 yen to 100,000 yen
Tops            20,000 yen to 60,000 yen
Dresses        30,000 yen to 80,000 yen
Skirts           30,000 yen to 60,000 yen
Pants           30,000 yen to 60,000 yen
Handbags     60,000 yen to 100,000 yen

Outline of Coronet Corporation

Name of company Coronet Corporation
Representative Shigeaki Chiba
Head office 2-8-4 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
URL

2014 Spring-Summer Collection

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