Cesare Paciotti launches clothing line

Cesare Paciotti, the Italian luxury footwear company, is expanding into ready-to-wear under its younger label, Paciotti 4US. The company, famous for its dagger logo and exquisite shoes, opened its first standalone ready-to-wear boutique in Rome earlier this month. In a statement, designer Paciotti said: "I translated the 4US style in a leisure time collection. It's luxury sportswear, it's about comfort and it should mirror the 4US spirit."

Paciotti plans to present the new collection during Milan Men's Fashion Week with an event on Jan. 14. A new showroom in central Via Sant'Andrea will also help support sales and communications efforts.

Whilst the 4US collection previously existed, it only included a limited number of items, such as sweatshirts, T-shirts and denim jeans. Since the original launch of the label, the designer has expanded it to build a comprehensive line for men and women, adding cargo pants, polo shirts, knit tops and down jackets.

Distribution of the ready-to-wear is still in its early phase. The brand currently has the brand has over 900 stockists worldwide, although Paciotti is planning to be more selective and reduce it store presence.

A second Paciotti 4US store is to open in Milan next year, modeled after the Roman location. The designer described the store, located in the heart of the capital in Via Bocca di Leone, near the Spanish Steps, as reminiscent of "an antique Parisian palazzo influenced by an early 1900s New York spirit."

Giuseppe Paciotti founded the company in 1948, offering production of handmade men's classic shoes. The passion was transfused to Giuseppe's children Paula and Cesare, who today have control of the company. Cesare became the chief executive officer in 1980, when his first collection Cesare Paciotti was born.

In 2006, the company reported sales of 72.9 million euros, or $107.5 million, and this year expects sales of 80 million euros, or $118 million.

Image: Campaign 05