Hyundai Department Store Group’s fashion arm, Handsome Corp, has secured an exclusive licensing agreement to distribute US lifestyle and fashion brand Kith’s products in South Korea.
Under the deal, Handsome will open Kith South Korea’s first store in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong district in the first half of next year. The store will mark Kith’s second store in Asia after Japan and the fourth store outside its home country.
Founded in 2011 by Ronnie Fieg, the NYC-based fashion brand operates 15 stores globally.
The partnership is part of Handsome Corp’s strategy to further expand its overseas fashion portfolio, following the company’s deal last year with Gabriela Hearst, Veronica Beard and Swedish fashion label Toteme.
The South Korean company is also reported to have signed exclusive distribution deals with Canadian outerwear brand Moose Knuckle and Italian fashion house Aspesi. While Moose Knuckle aims to roll out five locations and more than 20 pop-up stores in the market, about 10 Aspesi are slated to open by next year.
Founded in 1987, Handsome Corp manages more than 1380 stores and a portfolio of about 30 fashion and lifestyle brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Tom Greyhound, and Cashmere.
