MILAN and GRENOBLE, France, November 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Rossignol Group, global leader in the ski industry with its brand Rossignol , introduces the new Rossignol Apparel lines, and appoints Alessandro Locatelli as Chief Executive Officer of its ambitious plans in the sportswear scene.
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The mission is to expand the appeal of the French brand into the high-end sportswear and fashion lifestyle segment while maintaining the utmost respect for the company's legacy in winter sports and its celebrated 108-year history - both symbolized by the three-color rooster logo that will also adorn the upcoming range of clothing.
Rossignol Apparel, new Business Unit within the Group
Created by a new design team, Rossignol Apparel proposes a distinctive sport-chic line divided into Ski, Après-Ski and Urban categories, where technical performance meets fashion style to deliver a functional yet refined wardrobe for everyday modern life, designed perfectly for both the slopes and the city streets.
The men's and women's debut collections will be released next January and February 2016 in Milan, lining up within the official calendar of the respective Fashion Weeks. The presentations will take place at Rossignol Apparel's new headquarter in Corso Venezia, Milan.
The new apparel collections will be sold in selected sporting-goods stores, high-end contemporary multi-brand boutiques and some of the most renowned department stores on the global shopping map.
Furthermore, Rossignol Apparel will open six mono-brand stores over the next six months, located across some of the most prestigious French, Swiss and Italian mountain destinations, such as Chamonix, Megève, Courmayeur, Crans Montana, Cortina d'Ampezzo and St. Moritz.
A fashion professional to undertake a renewal
To effectively leverage the heritage of Rossignol and help bridge style and technical performance, Rossignol has selected Alessandro Locatelli to lead its Apparel business. Alessandro has extensive experience and understanding of the worldwide fashion market, gained through previous engagements as General Manager of Pierre Balmain, Costume National and Ittierre Group, former licensee of major fashion brands such as Galliano and Just Cavalli.
Bruno Cercley, CEO of the Rossignol Group, said: "We believe Rossignol is uniquely positioned to enter the Apparel market. We have a strong winter sport heritage, technical competence and global distribution through 10.000 doors; we have matched this with a new design team that brings style and fashion to the equation. We are truly grateful to have Alessandro on board to lead this important venture for us. His background from fashion and lifestyle brands, working in Germany, Italy, France and Asia, brings him an in-depth knowledge of all phases of the apparel supply chain, making him the right man for the job"
Alessandro Locatelli stated, "I am honored to be part of the Rossignol Group and thrilled about this much-awaited challenge. To preserve and evolve the brand's values and iconic DNA to the next level represents an unlimited potential of growth. And I firmly believe that infusing Rossignol's heritage onto contemporary lifestyle wear will make our collections unique and authentic. It's a whole new chapter to write."
The creation of Rossignol Apparel was initiated with the support of major players within the retail and fashion industry. The main shareholder is the Nordic fund Altor, flanked by French investment company Weber Investment, the Boix-Vives family (majority owners of the Rossignol Group from 1955 to 2005) and the Group's management team, including CEO Bruno Cercley. A minority position is also occupied by the US-based Sandbridge Capital, whose senior advisors include designer Tommy Hilfiger, former Gucci Group CEO Domenico De Sole, and former Crocs CEO Ron Snyder.
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About the ROSSIGNOL Group : The Rossignol Group, headed by Bruno Cercley, designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of sliding winter sport equipment. The global headquarters are located in the French Alps near Grenoble and houses a portfolio of strong and complementary brands with Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look, Risport and Kerma. The different brands have built their own identity and draw their inspiration from their mountainous environment.
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