Olivier Jacques, Chairman of Le Coq Sportif International, announced that the illustrious French sportswear brand will launch its prestigious footwear and apparel collections in North America in Fall 2005.
The North America launch is a result of a collaboration between Le Coq Sportif BV, Itochu International, and Le Coq Sportif North America, a U.S. based management team headed by former adidas and Fila executive Jon Epstein.
“We are very excited about the enormous potential for Le Coq Sportif in North America”, said Olivier Jacques, company Chairman. “With our performance authenticity and exceptional design sensibility, and the highly experienced management team of Itochu and Le Coq Sportif North America, we believe we are well positioned in these markets for long-term growth.”
Jon Epstein, Managing Partner of Le Coq Sportif North America, added, “There are few brands in this category that can match Le Coq Sportifs sports heritage and lifestyle cachet. We look forward to achieving the same level of success in North America that the brand has experienced throughout the rest of the world.”
Le Coq Sportif signed a partnership in 2003 with one of the major names in haute couture, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to combine the brands performance and technical capabilities with the French designers renowned aestheticism. This partnership has already produced several avante-garde collections for Le Coq in soccer and tennis.
Le Coq Sportifs vintage collections are positioned at the high end of the market and are sold in better department stores and select trend accounts and boutiques.
Le Coq Sportif North America will focus its performance product distribution in leading mall-based athletic specialty retailers, better sporting goods stores and tennis, running and soccer specialty stores.
The company plans to distribute Le Coq Sportifs high-end lifestyle collections in better department stores, trend footwear stores and boutiques and select athletic specialty retailers.
Le Coq Sportif International is based in Sausheim France where the company designs its footwear, apparel and accessory products.
Le Coq Sportif North America will be based in New York City where it will maintain its corporate offices and showrooms.
