Brooks Brothers launching in Australia

Menswear brand Brooks Brothers, which describes itself as America’s oldest clothing retailer, is to launch in Australia

with the opening of concessions inside department store David Jones.

In partnership with Australian luxury consumer goods company OrotonGroup, which had exclusive rights to the Ralph Lauren licence for 23 years, the US label will mark its expansion into Australia with the opening of several boutiques within David Jones stores nationwide.

The US label, which has over 500 stores across the US and in 25 countries around the world, is set to open concessions within David Jones Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth stores from February. There are also plans to open its own flagship store in Sydney, with additional own retail locations in Melbourne this year.

Commenting on the partnership, Brooks Brothers’ chairman and chief executive, Claudio Del Vecchio said: “We have partnered with OrotonGroup because of their passion for the Brooks Brothers brand, their track record with other premium brands, and their retail expertise and connections within Australia and New Zealand.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have them as a partner as we enter this important market.”

Brooks Brothers’ online sales to Australia exceed 1 million Australian dollars a year despite the absence of a bricks-and-mortar presence, and it is predicted that sales will triple in 2014 once it establishes a retail network and launches its local website.