Phillips-Van Heusen signs IZOD fragrance agreement

The company's IZOD brand represents high-end apparel designed around an active life style, to which fragrances is the latest portfolio extension. The addition adds to twenty other categories already covered by the brand portfolio, which currently includes eyewear, accessories, intimates, as well as men's, women's and children's clothing. PVH says that the new IZOD fragrances will 'capture the energy and vitality of the active lifestyle that has made the IZOD brand a household name for years' The company expects that the men's fragrance will be the first to be launched, in Spring 2008, followed up by the launch of the women's fragrance. Both of the fragrance launches will be targeted for distribution at major department stores and specialty stores throughout the United States. Frank Fazzinga, chairman of Gemini Cosmetics, says that the inclusion of the IZOD fragrance in its brand portfolio should make 'an excellent complement' to its growing business. Gemini Cosmetics is a developer of fragrance brands. It is based in New York and was set up by Neil Katz and Robert Rumsby, bother formerly of Liz Claiborne Cosmetics. Currently its fragrance brands include several manufactured under the Tommy Bahama umbrella, as well as the Kiss Her and Kiss Him brands. "In store, the look of IZOD fragrances category will be bold and dynamic," said Rumsby. "The brand's energy, color and sport inspiration will translate well to fragrances we know will appeal to men and to women." Like star sponsorship, the association of fragrances with major apparel brand names has proved big business for many fragrance producers. One of the most successful players in this field in recent years has proved to be Inter Parfums, which currently markets leading brands that include Gap-, Burberry- and Paul Smith-branded fragrances, helping to push sales 17 per cent to total of $321m in 2006.