Calvin Klein forms joint venture for distribution in Australia

PVH Corp., the owner of the Calvin Klein trademarks

worldwide, has announced a joint venture with Australian company Gazal Corporation to license the label in the region. The partnership will allow the new company, PVH Brands Australia Pty. Limited, to operate, manage and distribute Calvin Klein products in Australia, New Zealand and other island nations in the South Pacific.

Currently, the principal distribution in the region consists of a wholesale and retail Calvin Klein Underwear distribution business operated by Gazal, with product supplied through a wholly-owned subsidiary of PVH, and a wholesale and retail Calvin Klein Jeans business operated by two other PVH subsidiaries. The joint venture will combine these businesses and establish a unified approach for enhancing and expanding the distribution of the Calvin Klein in the region.

The joint venture is scheduled to start its wholesale and retail operations on February 3, 2014, and initially it will focus on the “integration, expansion and enhancement” of the existing underwear and jeanswear businesses, before extending into additional product categories.

“This strategic move allows us to directly support the development and expansion of our Calvin Klein brand in Australia and New Zealand,” said Tom Murry, CEO of Calvin Klein. “With the tremendous expertise of Gazal, which has successfully managed our underwear business for many years, this partnership should ensure the long-term potential of the brand in the region.”