Karl Lagerfeld To Bring Namesake Brand To North America

Karl Lagerfeld's namesake label which was discontinued in the US after its Fall 06 debut is making a return to the United States.

According to WWD, the iconic designer has formed a joint venture with G-III Apparel Group, through which a new Karl Lagerfeld Paris collection for spring 2016 will make its debut.

"We're very confident there will be a strong foothold from the start. It can potentially become the biggest geography for us very soon," Pier Paolo Righi, president and CEO of Karl Lagerfeld Group BV, told WWD.

G-III Apparel Group Ltd which makes licensed apparel for brands such as Calvin Klein, will hold brand rights to all Karl Lagerfeld apparel and accessories produced in the U.S. and Canada. Under Lagerfeld's artistic direction the collection will focus on women's apparel and handbags, along with men's outerwear, and will be targeted to the North American market.

"We believe there's an opportunity for another power brand today, and I can't think of a better vehicle to fill that void than Karl Lagerfeld," Morris Goldfarb - chairman, president and CEO of G-III said to WWD. "I don't think there's a woman [who] dresses in fashion that doesn't know what he looks like. I think they're in awe of the talent of this man and definitely will follow his leadership in fashion."

The Karl Lagerfeld line will launch in department stores, with a New York flagship slated to open early next year as well as in 300 locations across the continent.