Les Copains expanding U.S presence

Italian luxury knitwear label Les Copains, which is owned by Bologna, Italy based BVM SpA, is working on expanding their presence in the U.S. They currently have two store openings planned, the first in the Buckhead area of Atlanta in July, and the second in the River Oaks Shopping Center in Houston this fall. This is just the beginning for Les Copains, however.

The brand is working on furthering their partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks currently carries the line in 18 of their stores. Saks will be taking on an exclusive capsule collection for Les Copains called Blue Les Copains, the diffusion line designed by Peter Som, which will be sold in 11 of their stores come September.

The price point for the capsule collection will be between 245 and 685 dollars. Les Copains's current North American development strategy includes focusing on markets outside of NYC. From 1996 to 2007, Les Copains operated a flagship store at 807 Madison Avenue.

At the time, they owned the entire building, but they shuttered the store and sold the building as part of an investment. Francesco Leone, the CEO of Les Copains, believes that it is most effective to first try and reach the critical mass outside of NYC before they take on a market as competitive as NYC. The brand currently plans on adding two new Saks doors, one in Philadelphia and another in Puerto Rico.