New York and Tokyo — SANDOW® and MARK STYLER Co. Ltd. have formed a long term partnership to launch iconic retail lifestyle brand Fred Segal® in Japan starting in 2013.
New York and Tokyo — SANDOW® and MARK STYLER Co. Ltd. have formed a long term partnership to launch iconic retail lifestyle brand Fred Segal® in Japan starting in 2013. As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Corporation Fashion Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., will manufacture Fred Segal-branded product for distribution in the Japanese market. This deal marks the first time in more than 50 years that the Fred Segal name has been used outside of its original Los Angeles locations.
The first standalone Fred Segal flagship, slated to open in Tokyo in September 2013, will launch as a lifestyle destination that will reflect Fred Segal’s Southern California culture. The location will feature a salon, spa and more, much like the original emporiums in Los Angeles.
The Tokyo debut will be followed by several additional retail locations in other key Japanese cities, including both flagship stores and branded boutiques within major, high-end department stores.
In January 2012, SANDOW acquired the worldwide rights to the legendary Fred Segal brand. The acquisition included the rights to all intellectual property, which include the development of a new e-commerce platform for fredsegal.com, new retail stores worldwide and the development of Fred Segal-branded apparel and products.
“Our team spent much of 2012 looking for the right partner with whom to introduce Fred Segal in Japan. Our debut in this key market is just the first step in what will be a major expansion of the brand both in the U.S. and abroad,” says Michele Caniato, president of Culture + Commerce, a SANDOW brand that oversees all licensing for Fred Segal worldwide. “We are working towards Fred Segal becoming a major global lifestyle brand.”
SANDOW’s expansion in Japan kicks off an aggressive growth strategy for the Fred Segal brand, part of several upcoming global initiatives, including plans to enter select key markets in the U.S., including Las Vegas, New York and Miami.