Diesel Cuts Footwear Distribution

Diesel is to cut its UK footwear distribution by a third after taking sales and marketing of the brand in-house for autumn 03.Footwear was previously distributed by Benedetto. Diesel UK managing director Pan Phillippou told Drapers last week the account base would shrink by a third to approximately 150 accounts.

Distribution is to be as select as the clothing line. The new strategy will mean that stores, including department stores, must carry Diesel clothing to buy the brand's footwear. Footwear multiples, such as Sole Trader, will not be affected by the new arrangement.

London is likely to be the next location for Diesel's cutting-edge denim retail concept Denim Gallery. Diesel founder Renzo Rosso has been scouting locations, including in Notting Hill, but said he has not yet found the right site.There are currently Denim Gallery stores in Osaka and Tokyo in Japan and in SoHo, New York.