WP Lavori, located in Corso, Italy, was named distributor and licensee of European markets for Filson, the U.S. outdoor outfitter and apparel manufacturer. In addition to distribution and licensing beginning in March 2020, WP Lavori invested a 10 percent share in Filson.
Filson, established in 1897 with an outdoor aesthetic and product spanning across apparel, outerwear and accessories categories, is celebrating its 124th anniversary.
“Working with the folks at WP is fun,” said Shinola Founder Tom Kartsotis. “They bring a perspective to the business that is quite valuable, and this certainly feels like a partnership where one plus one equals three.”
“I am proud to be part of the partnership between Filson and WP. It reinforces Filson as a worldwide brand,” said Paolo Corinaldesi, CEO Filson.
WP Lavori, the Italy-based company, founded 40 years ago, specializes in distributing and building iconic heritage brands in Europe and worldwide. With a business model and partner brands including Barbour, Levi’s and others, WP Lavori has helped to define “how an entire generation imagines the world of clothing and design.”
WP Lavori created the first international clothing concept store which brought together a selection of worldwide brands, which remain today as in 1982 when the group was established.
Using its current sales network, the production license with WP Lavori will be responsible for extending Filson’s market in Europe, maintaining the consistency of its products and expanding product offerings where necessary.
“With the continued acceleration of the direct-to-consumer landscape, which accounts for 70 percent of total revenues, Filson will continue to open stores and focus on both on and offline strategies,” said the brand.