French Connection Group has signed a long term licensing partnership with G-III Apparel Group to develop and distribute men’s and women’s apparel and selected accessories across North America, effective February 1, 2026. The move is a key milestone in French Connection’s growth strategy under owner MIP Holdings, aimed at reigniting the brand and scaling its footprint in a critical market.
What the new partnership covers
Under the agreement, G-III will take on the development and distribution of French Connection apparel and select accessories for the North American market. The deal gives French Connection access to G-III’s deep wholesale, retail, and licensing network, known for placing brands across department stores, specialty accounts, and key digital partners.
This structure allows French Connection Group to focus on brand direction and global strategy while plugging into an operator that already runs complex multi brand businesses at scale. It also aligns with French Connection’s wider global expansion plans, using North America as a growth engine rather than a standalone outpost.
French Connection’s post‑takeover reset
Since its takeover by MIP Holdings in November 2021, French Connection Group has been in reset mode, working to modernize the label while protecting its design led heritage. The brand, founded in 1972 and headquartered in London, is known for contemporary clothing, accessories and homeware, with a presence in over 200 locations worldwide.
“We have focused on revitalizing French Connection and positioning it for long-term success,” Chair Apinder Singh Ghura said, adding that partnering with G-III should unlock “meaningful opportunity” in North America and build on the brand’s global momentum.
Why G-III is a powerful engine for French Connection
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a global fashion player with deep capabilities across design, sourcing, distribution, and marketing. The company owns ten iconic brands, including DKNY, Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld, and Vilebrequin, and licenses more than 20 major names such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Nautica, Champion, Halston, Converse, BCBG, plus major U.S. sports leagues.
“Expanding our portfolio of strategic licenses remains central to our growth strategy,” Morris Goldfarb, G-III’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said. He noted that the French Connection partnership leverages G-III’s scaled infrastructure and strengths in design, sourcing, and distribution to extend the brand’s legacy and deepen its connection with today’s consumer.
What this means for the North American market
For North American shoppers and retail partners, the deal should translate into a more consistent, visible French Connection presence across channels, backed by G-III’s proven execution in contemporary and designer categories. With G-III controlling everything from product build out to market access, the brand is positioned to compete more aggressively in key categories like dresses, tailored separates, outerwear, and lifestyle accessories.
For French Connection Group, the partnership is both a vote of confidence and an acceleration tool: it reinforces the brand’s relevance, broadens its reach, and supports its ambition to be a modern, global, design led fashion name.
