Itochu Corp. said Monday it has concluded a tieup agreement with Jeanne Lanvin s.a. of France, giving the major trading house the exclusive right to import products of the luxurious Lanvin fashion brand into Japan. The 10-year agreement, effective retroactively from Jan. 1, covers all Lanvin products except perfumes, cosmetics and precious metals.
The deal also allows Itochu to acquire an equity stake of less than 10 percent in Lanvin and manage the French firm's licensing operations in Japan.
Founded in 1890, Lanvin chalks up 60 billion yen in sales each year, with 30 billion yen from Japan alone. Through the tieup with Itochu, Lanvin hopes to boost sales in Japan to 45 billion yen in 2006.