PRZOOM - /newswire/ - London, United Kingdom, 2011/01/07 - Calvin Klein, Inc. announced that it has expanded its current licensing agreement with Cork based Premium Golf Brands (PGB) – the exclusive licensing partner for Calvin Klein Golf - to launch the brand into Asia in Fall 2011 [NYSE: PVH].

Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, today announced that it has expanded its current licensing agreement with Premium Golf Brands (PGB) – the exclusive licensing partner for Calvin Klein Golf and one of Europe’s largest supplier of golf apparel and accessories – allowing them to enter into a sublicense with Descente, Ltd. to extend the Calvin Klein Golf brand’s reach to new territories.

Under the new agreement, PGB in partnership with Descente, Ltd – one of the world’s leading sporting goods manufacturers – will distribute men’s and women’s golf apparel and accessories under the brand name in Asia. The distributed offering will include a full range of items including men’s and women’s golf clothing, accessories, and bags which will be sold by Descente in department stores and leading golf specialty stores in the region.

The Calvin Klein Golf brand is currently marketed by PGB in 22 countries worldwide. This new partnership will further the brands’ territorial expansion and penetration in Japan, China, and Hong Kong in Fall 2011, followed by Korea and Macao in Spring 2012, and additional Asian territories which are planned to be added by Spring 2014.

Launched in 2008, Calvin Klein Golf is designed under the direction of Kevin Carrigan, the Global Creative Director for the company’s ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein Jeans brands. Apparel in the line is designed in keeping with the modern aesthetic of the Calvin Klein brand featuring clean lines, classic cuts, and color palettes which seamlessly transition from the fairways to the clubhouse and beyond.

“With industry leaders like PGB and Descente as our partners, we feel that the Calvin Klein Golf business is well positioned to capitalize on the already robust golf industry in Asia, including the rapid emergence of golf in China,” said Tom Murry, Calvin Klein, Inc.’s President & CEO.
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“We are very excited to enter into this partnership with PGB and Calvin Klein – a brand with unparalleled global influence and recognition,” said Etsuro Nakanishi, Representative Director & President, Descente, Ltd. “Descente’s strong product development capacity and unique marketing initiatives coupled with Calvin Klein Golf’s sophisticated designs, will allow us to us further expand our golf business in Asia and Japan.”

The men’s and women’s Calvin Klein Golf offerings will be previewed for the first time in these regions during the upcoming golf market in Japan on January 6th and 7th at Descente’s Tokyo office located at Mejiro Tsubaki Hall, B1Floor, 1-4-8 Mejiro Toshima-ku (813-5979-6042).

Calvin Klein, Inc. is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide. Brands/lifestyles include Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear. Product lines under the various Calvin Klein brands include apparel, accessories, shoes, sleepwear, hosiery, socks, swimwear, belts, eyewear, watches, jewelry, coats, suits, fragrances, and cosmetics, as well as products for the home. For more information, visit calvinklein.com.

Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, 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, Trump, JOE Joseph Abboud, DKNY and Timberland. Visit pvh.com. For more information, visit pvh.com.

Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, Premium Golf Brands (PGB, premiumgolfbrands.com) is one of Europe’s largest golf apparel and accessories distribution companies. It owns two specialist golf apparel brands: Dwyers & Co. and Green Lamb, which is Europe’s leading ladies brand. In addition to the new Calvin Klein Golf brand, the company also licenses four additional high-end golf-clothing labels in Europe: Pukka, Fairway and Greene, Zero Restriction and Cutter and Buck. The privately held company was formed in January 2008, when Eurostyle, an established golf apparel firm, joined forces with industry experts Grahame Jenkins and Charlie Casson. In addition to its vertically integrated, 30 thousand square foot headquarters facility, the company has offices in Belfast, Manchester, U.K., and Villamoura, Portugal.

Descente, Ltd. (descente.co.jp) is a sporting goods company that develops approximately 20 brands covering a wide range of fields including its company brand DESCENTE (athletics, baseball, volleyball and skiing), Munsingwear (golf), le coq sportif (athletics, soccer and golf), arena (swimming), UMBRO (soccer), LANVIN SPORT (golf) and Marmot (outdoors). With the ability to plan and develop its own products, the company enjoys wide support from top athletes with great talent and sports enthusiasts alike. For the 21st Winter Olympics (Vancouver 2010), the company supplied DESCENTE brand apparel for the Japanese national team as well as to the Swiss alpine skiing team, Canada’s speed skating team, and other top teams from around the world, and provided support for both athletes and teams.

Contact:
Calvin Klein, Inc. Premium Golf Brands
Jennifer Crawford, VP, Corporate Communications
T: 212-292-9795 / E: jennifercrawford[.]ck.com.

Phillips-Van Heusen
Michael Shaffer, EVP & CFO
T: 212-381-3523 / E: michaelshaffer[.]pvh.com.

Agency / Source: Medi8 Ltd

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