Second store in the region and first in the UAE opens in Dubai Mall

UAE, 17 April, 2012: kate spade new york today opened the doors to its first store in the UAE, in Dubai Mall, and its second store in the region, following the opening of a branch in 360 Mall in Kuwait last month.  The arrival of the global lifestyle brand in the region is the result of a new distribution partnership with Jashanmal Group, which will involve exclusive distribution for the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

All stores will include women's ready to wear, handbags, small leather goods, fashion accessories and jewelry. Growth looks set to continue, with plans to expand into other territories in the region in 2012 and 13, with multiple retail stores and several shop-in-shops.

At the creative helm of kate spade new york, and a key driving force behind the brand's success and inevitable expansion, is President and Chief Creative Officer, Deborah Lloyd.  Joining the brand in 2007, Lloyd oversees all creative aspects of kate spade new york, and is responsible for building its unique philosophy for providing great personal style, combined with long lasting utility.

"kate spade new york is a lifestyle, and we are enormously excited to be bringing the brand to a city and region where a quality lifestyle is a high priority." Says Lloyd. "The fundamental principles of the brand are enduring quality, elegance, simplicity and always an element of surprise, and we feel sure that our colourful yet sophisticated product range will appeal to consumers across the region.  I am also looking forward to seeing how women in the Middle East will add their own twist to styling our designs."

Craig Leavitt, CEO of kate spade new york comments; "We are confident that the Middle East market will be a key growth area for us, and intend to have a meaningful presence in the region, opening in three new markets as a starting point. We are excited about our distribution partnership with the Jashanmal Group as they have a proven track record of strong brand management and aggressive growth plans. We feel certain that our product - with its spirited, chic and colorful DNA will resonate with the Middle Eastern consumer, and will excite her as an accessible luxury lifestyle brand. This launch coincides closely with our expansion into Europe, having opened two stores in London last fall, as we recognize the importance of traffic moving between these two markets." 

Tony Jashanmal, Group Executive Director adds; "We are delighted to announce our association with kate spade new york which is one of the fastest growing brands in the US.  We are confident that this is an excellent addition to our portfolio of accessible luxury lifestyle brands and we are sure that it will offer our consumers an unparalleled sophisticated shopping experience."

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About Kate Spade New York
In 1993, kate spade designed the utilitarian bag she'd been craving for years but couldn't find anywhere and so began a revolution in the accessories market. simple silhouettes with clever details and crisp palettes soon established a visual shorthand for the brand that's recognizable the world over. In 2007, kate spade turned the reigns over to design powerhouse Liz Claiborne, Inc. and Deborah Lloyd, formerly of Banana Republic and Burberry, took the helm as creative director and co-president with an aim to broadening the line while honoring kate's rich history. Today you'll find the brand on the arms of women everywhere - with 36 retail shops, a thriving e-commerce business, 89 locations in Asia, a new flagship in Brazil and distribution in more than 400 doors worldwide.

www.katespade.com

About Jashanmal Group:
Founded in 1919, the Jashanmal Group today is a corporation with multi-channel activities in the GCC and India with headquarters in the UAE. The retail division operates over 100 stores in 5 countries and a thriving distribution and wholesale division supplies a network of over 1,000 points of sale everyday in segments ranging from travel retail to mass and mid-market outlets to high-end retailers with a diverse product group that includes: home appliances, luggage, tobacco, print media and writing instruments.

www.jashanmalgroup.com

Press Release 2012