Just Cavalli renews license with Staff International through 2031

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Mar 27, 2014

Just Cavalli’s setbacks from the early 2000s are just a bad memory. The Italian designer’s second line has found its own fountain of youth since inking a license deal in January 2011 with Staff International, the production arm of Renzo Rosso’s OTB group. The move ousted manufacturer Ittierre, with Staff International producing the 2012 spring/summer collection.

The line’s success in the past two years prompted Roberto Cavalli’s fashion group and Staff International to renew and extend the licensing agreement for the production and distribution of Just Cavalli eight years before the contract’s originally scheduled termination, according to a joint press release.

The initial agreement provided for a 10-year term with a five-year renewal option through 2026. The new contract runs for 15 years with a five-year renewal option, which could extend the contract to 2031. The key elements of the agreement are unchanged, calling for the development and production of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories under the Just Cavalli brand and for global exclusivity in their retail distribution through mono-brand stores and multibrand networks.

Roberto Cavelli’s youth line is now present in 80 countries, with 1100 multibrand customers and 42 mono-brand stores, including its two flagships in New York and Milan. Staff International CEO Ubaldo Minelli said “the development plan for the next five years presents a sustained program of new openings in the main international cities, such as the highly anticipated London flagship store – for a total of 180 mono-brand stores, which are either directly operated or franchised. A further enhancement will be given to shop-in-shops and corners…as well as to the development of the brand’s e-commerce business.”

In addition to Just Cavalli, Staff International holds licenses to produce and distribute Dsquared2, Vivienne Westwood (Red Label and Man), and Marc Jacobs menswear as well as Maison Martin Margiela and its contemporary line MM6 and Viktor&Rolf (both of which are owned by holding company OTB). The company reported 2013 revenues of 320 million euros, 80% of which came from exports.