ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Unless the context otherwise requires, “G-III”, “us”, “we” and “our” refer to G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. and its subsidiaries. References to fiscal years refer to the year ended or ending on January 31 of that year. For example, our fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 is referred to as “fiscal 2015.”
Overview
G-III designs, manufactures and markets an extensive range of apparel, including outerwear, dresses, sportswear, swimwear, women’s suits and women’s performance wear, as well as footwear, luggage and women’s handbags, small leather goods and cold weather accessories. We sell our products under our own proprietary brands, licensed brands and private retail labels.
G-III sells swimwear, resort wear and related accessories under our own Vilebrequin brand and footwear, apparel and accessories under our own Bass and G.H. Bass brands. We also sell a variety of apparel products under our other owned brands that include Andrew Marc, Marc New York, Jessica Howard, Eliza J and Black Rivet and under private retail labels.
We sell products under an extensive portfolio of well-known licensed brands, including Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Guess?, Cole Haan and Tommy Hilfiger. In our team sports business, we have licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Touch by Alyssa Milano and over 100 U.S. colleges and universities.
Our products are sold through a cross section of leading retailers such as Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, The Bon-Ton Stores, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and JC Penney.
We also distribute through our own retail stores. Our retail operating segment consists primarily of our Wilsons Leather and G.H. Bass stores, substantially all of which are operated as outlet stores. As of January 31, 2015, we operated 185 Wilsons Leather stores and 156 G.H. Bass stores, as well as 5 Calvin Klein Performance stores, in 43 states and Puerto Rico.
We have acquired businesses that have broadened our product offerings, expanded our ability to serve different tiers of distribution and added a retail component to our business. Our acquisitions are part of our strategy to expand our product offerings and increase the portfolio of proprietary and licensed brands that we offer through different tiers of retail distribution.
In November 2013, we acquired the business of G.H. Bass & Co., a well-known heritage brand that developed the iconic original penny loafer (known as “Weejuns”). Bass footwear, apparel and accessories are sold primarily through our G.H. Bass outlet stores located in the United States. The brand is licensed for the wholesale distribution of men’s and women’s footwear and men’s sportswear. In addition, in March 2015, we entered into a wholesale license agreement with Genesco with respect to G.H. Bass men’s, women’s and children’s footwear in the United States and Canada. The line will be shown to customers this summer with first shipments expected for the Spring 2016 season, with distribution through better department and specialty stores. We also intend to use our in-house expertise to produce certain key categories for Bass, including our planned launch of Bass women’s apparel for delivery in Fall 2015.
In August 2012, we acquired Vilebrequin, a premier provider of status swimwear, resort wear and related accessories. Vilebrequin sells its products in the United States and over 50 countries around the world through a network of company owned and franchised specialty retail stores and shops, as well as through select wholesale distribution. Vilebrequin has also licensed its brand for the wholesale distribution of footwear and neckwear. We believe that Vilebrequin is capable of significant worldwide expansion. As of January 31, 2015, Vilebrequin products were distributed through 77 Company owned stores and 23 franchise partners, as well as through select wholesale distribution.
We have three reportable segments, licensed products, non-licensed products and retail operations. The licensed products segment includes sales of products under brands licensed by us from third parties. The non-licensed products segment includes sales of products under our own brands and under private label brands. The retail operations segment consists primarily of our Wilsons Leather and G.H. Bass stores, as well as a limited number of Calvin Klein Performance stores. See Note K to our Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information with respect to these segments.