Vera Wang renews eyewear licence with Kenmark

US manufacturer Kenmark Eyewear has announced the renewal until 2020 of the exclusive licence agreement for the development, production and worldwide distribution of Vera Wang eyewear. Kenmark Eyewear, led by CEO Mike Cundiff, has collaborated with the fashion designer since 2001, launching her brand in the eyewear market via the Vera Wang Core, Luxe, Alternative Fit and Vera Wang Collection labels.

Kenmark Optical Inc. has recently moved to its new headquarters and logistics hub in Jeffersontown, on the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky, where the company hails from. It was a major investment for Kenmark, which spent $1.5 million for the land and a further $3.3 million to renovate the existing buildings.

The 100-strong staff will be working in the new location, home to the design, sales, accounting, marketing, retail, international development, web/digital and customer service departments, as well as order handling.

Besides Vera Wang's, Kenmark also markets eyewear for Zac Posen, Original Penguin, Lilly Pulitzer, Dana Buchman, Timex, Jhane Barnes and Republica, through a distributive network extending across more than 70 countries.

This year Vera Wang decided not to show at the New York Fashion Week. She has told WWD that her latest collection will be showcased in a video that will premiere on 28th February, the opening day of the Paris Fashion Week and also the day when Vera Wang will be awarded the Order the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration.

In the interview, Vera Wang said that her decision - which is not irrevocable, though she may return featuring a format different from the traditional runway show - was motivated by the calendar overload and the fact that the number of show slots offered by the Council of Fashion Designers of America is increasingly limited.

Vera Wang renews eyewear licence with Kenmark

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