Donna Karan To License Eyewear

US Fashion designer Donna Karan International and eyewear maker Luxottica Group S.p.A. signed a five-year licensing agreement for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Donna Karan and DKNY prescription frames and sunglasses.

The initial agreement, which will begin Jan. 1, 2005, is renewable for an additional five years through December 2014. During the first 12 months after the commercial launch, Luxottica Group expects to generate sales from the new collections of approximately Euro 70 million.

Leonardo Del Vecchio, chairman of Luxottica Group, said, "Today our portfolio is more balanced than in the past. Sales to third parties of our Wholesale Division for the first five months of this year, up by approximately 9 percent year-over-year, confirm the renewed strength of our portfolio. Donna Karan and DKNY are brands that are truly global, particularly strong in key English speaking markets worldwide."

The first new Donna Karan and DKNY eyewear collections will be available early next year.