Cardin fashions for N.Z.

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 16

Cardin fashions for N.Z.

Four New Zealand com-' panies have been licenced bv; Pierre Cardin, the well-! known Parisian couturier, to manufacture Cardin mens-, wear fashions. The companies, and the lines they will manufacture: are:— Lane Walker Rudkin,■ Ltd: men’s suits, jackets trousers, socks; Ambler and' Company, Ltd (Auckland):; shirts; tekau Knitwear. Ltd: (Ashburton and Timaru):: : knitwear; Parisian Neckwear,'; Ltd (Auckland): ties, era-: vatt.es. belts, handkerchiefs,: and other accessories. Negotiations for the licensing arrangements have been under way for some months but now the contracts have been signed and representatives of the companies have discussed with Mr Keith Stammers, Pacific region agent for Pierre Cardin, their plans for a co-or-dinated approach to manufacturing and marketing the range as a carefully integrated collection. The objective is to present the range to the retail trade in August with a view to releasing it to the public early; In ext year. '

“I am very happy with[the licensees selected and I have no doubt about their ability to meet the high standard required by Pierre ‘Cardin, who has been described by 'Time', in a cover story, as the single mostsuccessful designer of the century”, said Mr Stammers. ■ '• “Trends during recent: I years have indicated that the; [New Zealand man is ready ■to accept change and we believe that he is now prepared to turn to Europe for la more sophisticated fashion image,” Mr Stammers said that [Pierre Cardin would personiially supervise the activities ;of his New Zealand licensees. The designs would all [be supplied from Paris and ■fabrics and components would be specially commis- • sioned from New Zealand’s suppliers of quality mat- : The four New Zealand companies now join a group of 230 major licensees located in just about every, : one of the world’s developed: ; countries, said Mr Stam-; imers, who added that the: I worldwide turnover in Pierre <

-Cardin products during the present year was expected ‘to top the $4OO million mark. Details of the promotion of the new project, as discussed yesterday, are in the hands of an executive com- : mittee headed by Mr L. P. Mechen, group merchandise manager. Lane Walker Rud‘■kin. Ltd.