G-III Apparel Group

What G-III Apparel Group does

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a global fashion conglomerate that designs, manufactures, sources and markets apparel, accessories and footwear through a portfolio of more than 30 owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1956 in New York's Garment District by Aron Goldfarb as a women's leather outerwear business, G-III has been publicly traded on NASDAQ (ticker: GIII) since 1989 and is led by Chairman and CEO Morris Goldfarb. The owned-brand portfolio includes DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan, Vilebrequin, G.H. Bass, Sonia Rykiel, Andrew Marc, Wilsons Leather, Eliza J and Jessica Howard; the licensed portfolio includes Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Halston, Converse, Champion, BCBG, Levi's, Dockers, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Vince Camuto and French Connection, plus league licenses (NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAA). Sourcing is executed through manufacturing partners across 40+ countries, with 72% of products sourced from Vietnam, China and Bangladesh combined.

The company operates three integrated revenue streams: wholesale distribution to over 1,600 retail customers globally including department stores and digital partners (the dominant channel); direct-to-consumer through brand-operated retail (DKNY 70+ stores, Karl Lagerfeld 200+ stores, Vilebrequin 200+ stores in 100+ countries) and owned e-commerce platforms; and brand licensing, both inbound (royalties paid to licensors such as PVH and Authentic Brands Group) and outbound (proprietary brands licensed to category specialists such as ALDO for G.H. Bass). In Fiscal 2026 the business generated $2.96 billion in global revenue with Non-GAAP EPS of $2.61 and 4,500 global associates.

G-III is mid-pivot from a predominantly licensed apparel manufacturer toward a brand owner-operator. Owned brands now represent 57% of net sales, and the company has committed approximately $500 million to a joint venture with WHP Global to acquire and operate the Marc Jacobs business from LVMH (closing expected fiscal Q3 2027), while simultaneously absorbing a projected $470 million loss from the multi-year exit of its Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licenses. Management maintains more than $900 million in liquidity to fund additional acquisitions and licensing deals.

Name

G-III Apparel Group

Legal name

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.

Website

https://www.giii.com/

Company type

Public

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

G-III Apparel Group is a global fashion conglomerate that designs, sources and distributes apparel and accessories through a portfolio of 30+ owned and licensed brands, serving over 1,600 wholesale customers and DTC consumers across North America, Europe and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apparel and Fashion Accessories

NAICS

Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletic / Performance & Activewear Brands (CRAAAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Leather Goods & Handbags (CRAKAFAB), Luxury & Designer Apparel Retail (CRAAABAI), Team & League Branded Merchandise Retail (Non-Apparel) (CRAMAOAF)

Keywords

• Wholesale apparel distribution
• Fashion brand licensing
• Outerwear manufacturing
• Luxury fashion brands
• Apparel design marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Revenue: G-III generates revenue by designing, sourcing and marketing apparel and accessories sold at wholesale to department stores and other retailers. This includes both owned brands (DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan, Vilebrequin) and licensed brands (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Nautica, etc.).
2. Retail/DTC Revenue: Revenue from company-operated retail stores and digital commerce platforms for owned brands. DKNY operates 70+ stores globally, Karl Lagerfeld has 200+ stores worldwide, and Vilebrequin has 200+ stores across 100+ countries.
3. Licensing Revenue: G-III licenses its proprietary brands to carefully selected licensees for new product categories and geographies. The company also pays royalties to brand owners for licensed brands it produces and distributes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

G-III Apparel Group designs, sources, manufactures, and markets apparel and accessories under a portfolio of 30+ owned and licensed brands. Its owned brands include DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan, Vilebrequin, G.H. Bass, Sonia Rykiel, Andrew Marc, and Wilsons Leather. Its licensed brands include Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Halston, Converse, Champion, BCBG, Levi's, and major sports leagues. Products are sold through wholesale distribution to over 1,600 global retail customers and through company-operated retail stores and e-commerce platforms.

Product overview

G-III Apparel Group is a global fashion company operating as a fashion conglomerate with a portfolio of 30+ owned and licensed brands. The company functions as both a brand owner/operator and a licensed apparel manufacturer. Its owned brands (DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan, Vilebrequin, G.H. Bass, Sonia Rykiel, Andrew Marc, Wilsons Leather, Eliza J, Jessica Howard) are central to its growth strategy and are sold through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Its licensed brands (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Halston, Converse, Champion, BCBG, Levi's, Dockers, and major sports leagues) leverage G-III's design, sourcing, and distribution expertise. The company operates across wholesale and retail segments, distributing to over 1,600 customers globally through brick-and-mortar and digital channels. Fiscal 2026 revenue was $2.96 billion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DKNY: Global fashion brand founded in 1989 by Donna Karan. Known for modern and sophisticated apparel, accessories, and footwear capturing the vibrant spirit of New York City.
• Karl Lagerfeld
• Donna Karan
• Vilebrequin
• G-III Sports
• G.H.Bass

Products and services

• DKNY Global fashion brand offering modern and sophisticated apparel, accessories, and footwear capturing the vibrant spirit of New York City.
• Karl Lagerfeld Luxury fashion house offering apparel, accessories, footwear and licensed categories such as fragrance, men's, kids, home, and branded experiences with luxury hotels and residences.
• Donna Karan American fashion brand offering modern system of dressing, social occasion wear, and lifestyle collections built on the Seven Easy Pieces concept.
• Vilebrequin French luxury swimwear and resort wear brand founded in St. Tropez in 1971, offering premier status swimwear, resort wear and related accessories.
• G.H. Bass American heritage footwear brand established in 1876, known for quality shoes and the iconic penny loafer design.
• Sonia Rykiel French luxury brand founded in 1968 offering a timeless wardrobe embodying the quintessential Parisian lifestyle and revolutionary knit design techniques.
• Andrew Marc Designer outerwear brand since 1982, building on rich heritage of garments embodying both fashion and function.
• Wilsons Leather U.S. leather retailer and outlet chain acquired by G-III in 2008, expanding the company into brick-and-mortar retail.
• Calvin Klein (Licensed) Global lifestyle brand offering bold, progressive ideals with a seductive minimal aesthetic across women's apparel, men's outerwear and accessories.
• Tommy Hilfiger (Licensed) Premium lifestyle brand celebrating the essence of Classic American Cool, with G-III producing womenswear collections.
• Nautica (Licensed) Iconic modern and nautically inspired brand offering women's sportswear, jeans, tailored clothing, and dresses for U.S. and Canada.
• Halston (Licensed) Iconic American luxury brand offering men's and women's product categories for global distribution under a 25-year master licensing agreement.
• Converse (Licensed) Iconic American youth lifestyle brand offering adult men's and women's apparel under global licensing agreement including big box, sports specialty, and Converse stores distribution.
• Champion Outerwear (Licensed) American sportswear brand offering men's and women's outerwear for North America under multi-year licensing agreement.
• BCBG (Licensed)
• G-III Sports Sports license apparel division offering men's and women's licensed apparel for top leagues including NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR and NCAA, plus Starter, G-III for Her, Margaritaville, MSX By Michael Strahan and Pro Player.
• French Connection (Licensed) Contemporary fashion brand offering men's and women's apparel and selected accessories across North America under long-term licensing partnership.
• Eliza J Dress brand in G-III's owned portfolio, solidifying the company's leadership in the dresses category.
• Jessica Howard Dress brand in G-III's owned portfolio, solidifying the company's leadership in the dresses category.

Quantifiable outcome

• DKNY net sales grew to ~$675 million in FY 2025 with $1 billion annual net sales opportunity over mid-term
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WHP GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026G-III and WHP Global formed a 50/50 joint venture to jointly own Marc Jacobs brand intellectual property. G-III separately acquired and operates the global Marc Jacobs business under a long-term licensing arrangement for approximately $500 million. Marc Jacobs remains as founder and creative director. The deal is expected to close in G-III's fiscal third quarter of 2027.
• LVMHminorOthers · 15 May 2026LVMH sold Marc Jacobs brand to WHP Global and G-III joint venture. LVMH held majority stake in Marc Jacobs since 1997. Transaction allows LVMH to capitalize on years-long brand turnaround while offloading accessible luxury business.
• WHP GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026JV grants G-III exclusive multi-decade license to operate Marc Jacobs across North America and Western Europe through December 2041, with auto-renewal options. G-III plans to acquire the operating company from the JV post-close while JV retains brand IP. Transition Services Agreement with LVMH ensures seamless operational transition.
• Buck MasonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Collaboration featuring the Larson Loafer for G.H. Bass under Aldo Product Services licensing. Black version restocked and brown colorway introduced. Collection retails for $295 through Ghbass.com, Buckmason.com, and select Buck Mason stores.
• Marc JacobscoreOthers · 14 May 2026Marc Jacobs remains as Founder and Creative Director following WHP Global and G-III acquisition. Ensures continuity of brand's creative vision and creative direction overseeing fashion shows and runway collections.
• Regulatory/AntitrustminorOthers · 14 May 2026Marc Jacobs acquisition pending antitrust approvals with six-month outside date extendable by 60 days. Expected to close in G-III's fiscal third quarter of 2027.
• Overland Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 April 2026Multi-year wholesale license agreement for Overland to sell G.H. Bass men's, women's, and children's footwear across Europe. Companion deal for Overland to operate retail locations in the region. Second license signed since G-III acquired G.H. Bass from PVH in November 2013.
• ALDO Group (ALDO Product Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 April 2025Seven-year exclusive licensing agreement granting ALDO rights to design, manufacture, distribute, and sell G.H.BASS footwear, bags, and small leather goods across North American retail channels and online. ALDO manages ghbass.com e-commerce platform and launched collection for Spring/Summer 2026 season.
• Marquee BrandsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Partnership to expand BCBG brand portfolio including BCBG Max Azria, BCBGeneration and BCBG. G-III oversees women's dresses, ready-to-wear, sportswear and swimwear for BCBGeneration and BCBG in U.S. and Canada. JS Group handles ready-to-wear and occasion wear for BCBG Max Azria.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• WHP Global: Brand management company specializing in acquiring and managing consumer brand IP through licensing. G-III's JV partner on Marc Jacobs and a direct business-model peer in apparel/IP licensing.
• Ralph Lauren Corporation: Owns and operates a portfolio of luxury/premium apparel brands globally across wholesale and DTC, with international flagship retail. Comparable brand-owner-plus-licensed-distributor strategy.
• Levi Strauss & Co. Owns and licenses apparel/jeans brands (Levi's, Dockers) globally through wholesale and DTC. Comparable owned-brand apparel operator with similar wholesale customer base and sourcing footprint.
• Tapestry, Inc. Multi-brand fashion house (Coach, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman) operating acquired brands through wholesale and DTC. Closely comparable business model of acquiring and operating multiple owned fashion brands globally.
• Authentic Brands Group: Brand management and licensing platform that owns IP for consumer brands and licenses them out. G-III's JV partner on Marc Jacobs and a peer in the licensing-driven brand IP business model.
• Kontoor Brands: Owns Wrangler, Lee, and Helly Hansen apparel brands sold through global wholesale and DTC. Comparable apparel brand owner with similar mix of owned brands and licensed/sport adjacencies.
• Capri Holdings: Owns Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo — three directly comparable luxury/fashion brands with similar wholesale-plus-DTC distribution. Highly comparable multi-brand apparel/accessories operator.
• PVH Corp: Owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger — the same brands G-III has been licensing. PVH is the most direct peer given shared brand exposure, multi-channel wholesale + DTC distribution, and apparel conglomerate structure.

Broad incumbents

• VF Corporation: Large apparel/footwear conglomerate (North Face, Vans, Timberland). Direct overlap in apparel operating model and global wholesale distribution; broader and more diversified than G-III.
• Hanesbrands Inc. Apparel conglomerate with owned basics, activewear, and international brands. Operates similar apparel sourcing and wholesale infrastructure; broader portfolio than G-III's fashion focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/g-iii-apparel-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about G-III Apparel Group