Clothing forecasts billings of 70 million (+40%)

By the end of the year, Clothing Company forecasts that its billings will reach 70 million euros, a good 10 million up on the initial estimates (+40% compared to 2005).

The upturn is due to the increase in sales of clothing and footwear and to the boom in the newly-launched eyewear which has already brought in revenues of 6 million.

Starting next year, Belstaff, the brand that will allow this exploit, will also be presenting swimwear, bathrobes, beach towels and flip-flops and it is likely that cosmetics and fragrances will also be on the cards.

In the meantime, during September Belstaff, the company located in Zerman di Mogliano Veneto in the Trevigiano area, will be inaugurating two monobrand stores in Florence and Treviso, which will join the megastore in London opened last year.

'In Tuscany we will be next to the monobrand store for our other brand, Capalbio', said Franco Malenotti, owner of the Veneto-based company, 'whereas in Treviso we will be located in a four-story building right in the city center'.

And by 2007, more stores will be opened in Tokyo, Madrid and New York.

In other words, a series of initiatives that will increase Clothing Company's growth and give it a more qualified position in export.

'In a few days' time', added Malenotti, 'we will launch an advertising campaign with the face and body of British model Kate Moss. Photographed in London by David Seems, a legend in the photography world, she will wear our clothes and eyewear. With this, we should considerably exceed billings of 10 million by end 2007. People like the reproductions of Forties and Fifties-style eyewear for motorcyclists and aviators. I think that we will extend this collection'.

At end 2006, Clothing Company expects strong growth abroad, where Che Guevara and Lawrence of Arabia jackets are increasingly popular.

(Source: Milano Finanza)