Tumi Licenses Stuart’s to Market T-Tech Outerwear

NEW YORK – Tumi announced on Friday that it will license Stuart’s, a leading branded and private label manufacturer and distributor of men’s outerwear, to develop and market T-Tech by Tumi outerwear for men in the United States and Canada.

Launching for fall 2008, the new collection will feature leather and cloth outerwear highlighting technical and material themes. It wlll be sold through Tumi free-standing stores and marketed to better department and specialty stores within the United States and Canada. The T-Tech by Tumi outerwear showroom will be located at 247 West 36th St in New York within Stuart’s headquarters. Carlo Quintiliani has been named president of sales. Michael Hong has been appointed to the post of design director.

Stuart’s designs, manufactures and distributes better men’s outerwear throughout the world. These products are distributed primarily under the brand names of Stuart’s and Cooper Sportswear Mfg. Co. Stuart’s also distributes private label men’s outerwear to national retailers and better specialty stores.

According to Laurence Franklin, CEO of Tumi, “Our T Tech brand has had fabulous success with the ‘casual/wired’ consumer. Stuart’s T-Tech outerwear collections will definitely add to our appeal and our franchise. We are very pleased to have them as our partners in this initiative.”

Stuart Edelman, CEO of Stuart’s, and Wayne Galvin, president, said, “We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to the expansion of choices available to the retailer in sharing in a brand and lifestyle that will reflect the best technology, creativity and design aspects of Tumi. We look forward to building a new platform with Tumi to enhance brand awareness, quality, retail profitability and consumer loyalty.”

In January, Tumi announced a licensing agreement with Swank to produce jewelry, belts, small leather goods and gifts under the Tumi brand. Later that month, the company, which markets its own luggage and travel accessories, announced the appointment of David Chu as executive creative director.