American brand Keds has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with LF USA, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-headquartered multinational Li & Fung Limited, to develop a line of Keds branded apparel for women and men to be sold in retail stores across the U.S. and its territories beginning next year.

Keds' Century Collection

As part of the agreement, LF USA will work with the Keds brand team to create the men's and women's apparel collections and will be responsible for the marketing and sales to retailers across the US, initially targeting boutiques and department stores. The new collections are expected to focus on casual wear designs with an initial limited-edition collection expected for Spring 2012 and more complete lines to follow later in the year.

Keds is a division of Collective Brands Performance and Lifestyle Group (PLG), which focuses on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear for men and women, and high-quality children's footwear. These are sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite, Keds, Sperry Top-Sider, Robeez, Saucony, among others.

LF USA is a subsidiary of Li & Fung Limited, the Hong Kong-headquartered multinational consumer goods export and logistics group; and is recognised as the world's leader in consumer goods design, development, sourcing and distribution. The Group manages the supply chain for retailers and brands worldwide and sources from more than 40 economies.