FAÇONNABLE ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH SPECIALTY WHOLESALER TO DISTRIBUTE BRAND IN CANADA
SEATTLE (August 15, 2005) -Nice-based Façonnable S.A.S. announced it has signed an agreement with Throat Threads Apparel, Inc. to distribute its Façonnable brand in Canada. Throat Threads Apparel is a leading distributor of branded sportswear that specializes in the Canadian marketplace for companies outside the country. Wholesale customers will begin to see Façonnable merchandise in Canada for the first time as early as January 2006.
Façonnable S.A.S. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nordstrom, Inc. The Façonnable brand is known for its impeccably crafted, high quality men's and women's apparel and accessories with a distinct French sensibility. In Europe, Façonnable can be found at department stores and specialty retail shops, as well as 32 company-owned boutiques. It is carried exclusively at Nordstrom stores across the U.S., as well as five free standing boutiques. In addition, there are 25 franchised Façonnable boutiques in other international locations.
"We are excited to offer our Façonnable brand in Canada," said Mark Brashear, Façonnable president. "Over the years, we have heard from Canadian customers who were wanting to buy Façonnable merchandise. Through our partnership with Throat Threads Apparel, we are now able to make it available to our customers there."
"In my 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and traveling abroad, I cannot think of any better fit for the Canadian market than the Façonnable brand," said Russ Fearon, president of Throat Threads Apparel. "The people, the product and the brand are first class and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship."
Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 152 US stores located in 27 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 95 full-line stores, 49 Nordstrom Racks, five Façonnable boutiques, one freestanding shoe store, and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also operates 32 international Façonnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.
Founded locally in 1993 by an enterprising 27 year old Russ Fearon, Throat Threads Apparel takes pride in distinguishing itself as an authority in brand development, creative product/store planning and design, supply chain management, a robust sales data mining solution and strategic retail product placement for the Canadian Apparel Industry. Throat Threads Apparel provides innovative sales, marketing and distribution solutions to such leading global brands as Victorinox by Swiss Army Brands™, Tommy Hilfiger, Ted Baker, Guess, Kenneth Cole New York, Ike Behar, Nautica, DKNY, An Original Penguin, Timberland, Nat Nast Luxury Originals and Chip and Pepper Denim.
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Stephanie Wood
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