SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Henry Jacobson LLC and Artex International announced today a joint venture licensing agreement for Artex to have exclusive wholesale distribution of Henry Jacobson collection sportswear in North America, Hong Kong and mainland China. Artex will also have retail distribution rights for Hong Kong and mainland China for collection sportswear, dress shirts, neckwear and accessories.
Henry Jacobson is a San Francisco-based designer of men's luxury apparel and accessories available in fine boutiques and specialty department stores. Henry Jacobson, LLC licenses sportswear to Artex International, dress shirts to Kellwood, neckwear to Mulberry Neckwear and tailored clothing to Peerless. The Company has offices in Richmond, California and New York City. Under the agreement, Artex is producing and will deliver Jacobson's spring 2007 collection. The company plans to open the first Henry Jacobson retail stores in China in 2008.
Artex International is a Hong Kong based consortium of 17 related factories that produce luxury merchandise for all classifications in the tailored clothing, sportswear, furnishings and accessories categories. Artex has been Henry Jacobson's lead manufacturer and to date has been responsible for producing a majority of the Henry Jacobson collection sportswear product.
"This will be a true joint venture," said Alan Burks, President of Henry Jacobson. "There will be a sharing of resources allowing the brands founder and creative director Henry Jacobson to oversee every aspect of design."
"Artex has been the best manufacturing partner imaginable," said Burks. "Their quality is world-class and they have consistently gone the extra mile to do whatever has been necessary to support the brand. They are truly deserving of this opportunity."
Burks said sales for the brand will continue to run out of Henry Jacobson's New York showrooms by Kevin McMullan who has been the brand's vice-president of sales for the brand since its inception in 2003.
"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Henry Jacobson in this way," said Lawrence Lam, CEO of Artex. "We have watched Henry grow as a designer since his first collections and have been impressed by his passion, aesthetic and attention to detail."
Lam said Jacobson's work broadens the definition of classic and that his California-based luxury lifestyle approach will make him even more attractive to the luxury consumer in the U.S., China and worldwide.
"Artex has been like family to us," said Creative Director and CEO Henry Jacobson. "They have always believed in the brand and my vision. I couldn't be more thrilled."
