Itochu acquires master license rights for LLBean in Japan

Itochu Corp has acquired the master license rights for the US fashion label LLBean in Japan and the whole sales rights for the brand’s imported products.

The agreement requires Itochu to appoint Minoya Co for product development and wholesale sales of licensed apparel products and Sunriver Co for wholesale sales of imported products.

LLBean, a clothing and outdoor recreation equipment brand, operates 90 retail stores globally, including 28 in Japan that it directly manages.

LLBean International’s Japan branch will continue to operate the catalog and e-commerce businesses and stores that are directly managed.

Itochu Corp would develop sales channels. such as select shops, outdoor specialty stores, and sports retailers for outdoor enthusiasts, while also developing new licensing categories.

Earlier this year, the Japanese firm acquired the rights to Forever 21, with plans to start the brand’s e-commerce sales in Japan in February before rolling out physical stores.

Itochu, along with the Authentic Brands Group, also plans to open Eddie Bauer’s new freestanding stores in Japan, expand shop-in-shop locations and specialty accounts, and relaunch the brand’s e-commerce early next year.