G-III Apparel acquires G.H. Bass from PVH

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Oct 3, 2013

On a drive to focus on higher-growth brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, PVH has sold footwear brand G.H. Bass to company G-III Apparel for 50 million dollars.

G-III Apparel has a deep relationship with PVH and currently holds licenses for brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger in North America, as well as Guess, Nine West and Ivana Trump.

The acquisition will allow the group to develop the G.H. Bass brand - which was founded in 1936 in Norway – to give it a more feminine image. For some, G.H. Bass was the original creator of the penny loafer.

PVH acquired the brand in 1987 and integrated it into its Heritage division, alongside labels Arrow, Izod and Van Heusen.