Lafuma is becoming more and more dependent on international sales. The French company posted a 9.8% increase in sales to €37.0 million ($48.0 mm) for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 and international sales accounted for 40.0%, or €14.8 million ($19.2 mm). Last year, Lafuma recorded €33.7 million ($40.1 mm) in sales with international accounting for 38.9% of the total. Lafuma domestic sales (inside EU) increased 7.8%, from €20.6 million to €22.2 million while international increased 13.5%.

At OR Winter Market, BOSS caught up with the President of Lafuma’s U.S. subsidiary, Guillaume Linossier, who said that the company’s sleeping bag line is still the brand’s best selling outdoor product in the U.S. market. Lafuma launched its apparel line at OR Winter Market, with an emphasis on women’s specific outerwear. LaFuma has brought on a new design team in France, who will be producing a line for North America.

In other international Lafuma news, the company has finalized an agreement with the Hong Kong Company ‘Toronto’ to sell and market Lafuma products in China.