Elizabeth Arden to Develop Italian Designer Brands

Elizabeth Arden Inc. entered into an exclusive longterm global licensing agreement with AEFFE S.p.A. for the development, marketing and distribution of fragrance, cosmetics and skincare products with the international fashion designer Alberta Ferretti. Founded in 1981 by Ferretti and her brother Massimo Ferretti, AEFFE S.p.A. operates in the luxury goods sector with the manufacture and international distribution of prestige brands, including the Alberta Ferretti collection, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Pollini, and Jean Paul Gaultier. A debut fragrance is planned to launch in the spring of 2009. Elizabeth Arden will produce and market the fragrance collections with creative direction for the scents to come from Alberta Ferretti herself. "Alberta Ferretti is an icon in the world of fashion design, and we are thrilled to be working with her to create a fragrance line that reflects the sensibilities of her style," says E. Scott Beattie, chairman and chief executive officer, Elizabeth Arden. "Adding the Alberta Ferretti name to our designer fragrance brands allows us to diversify our fragrance brand portfolio and strategically expand our reach of prestige fragrance distribution, particularly in the European fragrance market."