NEW YORK, December 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Ittierre to assume the production and distribution for Fall 2012

The Tommy Hilfiger Group, which is wholly owned by PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), is pleased to announce an agreement with Ittierre S.p.A to license the men's and women's runway collections beginning Fall 2012 and pre-collections Spring 2013. Ittierre will produce and distribute apparel and the majority of accessories, with distribution concentrated in Europe, North America and Asia. 

Under this agreement, distribution of the runway collections will extend from Tommy Hilfiger retail stores to also include high-end wholesale, specialty and online retailers. The collections will be sold in six showrooms throughout Europe, North America and Asia following presentations during New York Fashion Week in February 2012.

"We are thrilled to enter into this licensing agreement with Ittierre, which will allow us to broaden our upper tier global distribution," said Fred Gehring, Chief Executive Officer of The Tommy Hilfiger Group. "Over the past few years, the successful repositioning and elevation of the brand has led to an increase in the demand for our runway collections. Partnering with Ittierre is a wonderful opportunity to reach new customers and to further evolve our most elevated expression of preppy American classics with a twist. We look forward to building on the brand's current momentum with Ittierre, a partner that is renowned for their passion and capability to manage the manufacturing and distribution of designer collections on a global scale."

Antonio Bianchi, Chairman and CEO of Ittierre S.p.A. asserts: "Tommy Hilfiger, the world's leading Classic American Cool brand, has chosen Ittierre, the representative of "Made in Italy" craftsmanship and excellence in the fashion industry, as its global partner. We are delighted by this new collaboration with one of the world's leading designer apparel brands. It is a historic event that enhances the global reputation of Ittierre and rewards the dedication of our management team, headed by General Manager Alessandro Locatelli. This new important licence, the fifth awarded in 2011 and tenth overall in Ittierre's portfolio, marks a fantastic close of year for the Company."

Tommy Hilfiger retains creative control over all collections. Prices for the men's and women's runway collections are expected to range from 140.00 - 2,000.00 Euros; the entry price points are expected to be consistent with previous seasons but will extend to include higher level pricing for tailored clothing, dresses and leathers.  The first collection distributed under the licensing agreement will be in stores July 2012.

About The Tommy Hilfiger Group:

With a premium lifestyle brand portfolio that includes Tommy Hilfiger and Hilfiger Denim, the Tommy Hilfiger Group is one of the world's most recognized designer apparel groups. Its focus is designing and marketing high-quality menswear, womenswear, children's apparel and denim collections.  Through select licensees, the Group offers complementary lifestyle products such as sportswear for men, women and children; footwear; athletic apparel (golf, swim and sailing); bodywear (underwear, robes and sleepwear); eyewear; sunwear; watches; handbags; men's tailored clothing; men's dress furnishings; socks; small leather goods; fragrances; home and bedding products; bathroom accessories; and luggage.  The Hilfiger Denim product line consists of jeanswear and footwear for men, women and children; bags; accessories; eyewear and fragrance.  Merchandise under the Tommy Hilfiger brands is available to consumers worldwide through an extensive network of Tommy Hilfiger retail stores, leading specialty and department stores and other select retailers and retail channels.

About PVH Corp.:

PVH Corp., one of the world's largest apparel companies, owns and markets the iconic Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands worldwide.  It is the world's largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZOD, ARROW, Bass and G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands, including Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud, DKNY, Ike Behar and John Varvatos.

About Ittierre S.p.A.:

Ittierre S.p.A., leader in the sartorial and industrial production and global distribution of licensed apparel and property owned brands, from the high end pret-a-porter to younger lines and jeanswear, represents innovation, creativity, design and the quality of the made in Italy worldwide. The partnerships that have been developed in the past thirty years with the most important international designers have stimulated a growth path in terms of style, development, product and market distribution. The dna of each individual licensed brand is respected and maximized, the designers ideas of the collection are interpreted and produced exclusively in the industrial pole of Pettoranello di Molise in the province of Isernia, where the productive and logistic platform is sited on an area of 120.000mq., of which 80.000 is covered, unites not only the directional and administrative offices but also all of the activities that lead to the creation of garments and accessories. The Head Quarter currently employs over 600 people and has created a real district, unique in the Italian fashion system: Ittierre S.p.A., employs over 3000 people extended over 150 manufactures in the district, thus being able to count on a complete production cycle, including washings and finishings. The portfolio of Ittierre S.p.A. includes a high diversified range of international brands such as: Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Pierre Balmain, Aquascutum, Galliano, Ermanno-Ermanno Scervino, C'N'C Costume National, GF Ferrť, Fiorucci and Acht.

SOURCE Tommy Hilfiger Group