MELBOURNE: Luxury brand Versace has settled back into the Australian retail landscape, launching its first seasonal sale today.
The Italian brand's Crown Casino store is offering up to 30 per cent off its current autumn/winter 2009/10 collections for men, women and accessories.
Premium Versace retail took a six month break from Australia last year when its national license changed hands. It disappeared in April 2009 after Sydney-based licensee Zestland did not renew its rights for three stores in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Domestic wholesale rights for Versace Sport, Versace Jeans Couture and Versace Collection were also left unrenewed.
One of Zestland’s three directors John Hii branched out with a new company Zestland Prime. He renegotiated the Gianni Versace retail license for Australia. It now runs the flagship store in Crown Casino and also a boutique at Queensland’s Palazzo Versace Hotel.
Zestland Prime operations manager Richard Costanzo told Ragtrader in October 2009 that the company would focus on rebuilding the brand’s retail presence across key capital cities.