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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Outerwear Company evolves Into Woolrich International With Mill In Woolrich, Pennsylvania

11/29/2016
Woolrich Inc., America's oldest outdoor clothing company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of outdoor lifestyle apparel with a mill in Pennsylvania, and Woolrich Europe, licensee of the trademark for Europe and Asia, owned by W.P. Lavori in Corso, agreed to merge into Woolrich International.

According to company officials, the new holding company responsible for leading and accelerating the future growth and development of the Woolrich brand, both in the North American market and worldwide. The agreement includes all of the entity's industrial assets, the rights associated with the brand and the entire distribution network.

The newly-formed company, Woolrich International will be headquartered in London and coordinate operating offices in New York City, and mill in Woolrich Pennsylvania, along with facilities in Bologna and Milan, Italy.

Founded in 1830 by John Rich with the establishment of the original Woolrich Woolen Mill, still operative in Pennsylvania, Woolrich Inc. is the epitome of the history of the U.S. outdoor apparel industry, company officials said. W.P. Lavori in Corso has been a partner of Woolrich since 1984, initially involved in its distribution, then, in 1998, evolving the collaboration into an official license to design, produce and distribute Woolrich products, starting in Italy, then expanding into Europe and Asia.

Cristina Calori, Chairman of Woolrich International commented: "We are extremely proud of this industrial deal, as with over 32 years of collaboration, we have built an excellent relationship between the Woolrich and W.P. families. We are determined to enhance our successful business model to foster development of the brand all over the world."

"Woolrich is America's oldest outdoor clothing company; its history runs parallel to that of the United States," said Andrea Canè, Global Creative Director of Woolrich International. "This is what makes the brand unique. With Woolrich John Rich & Bros, we embraced the history and archives to embed protection, functionality and quality into a contemporary outerwear collection recognized by the iconic Arctic Parka. The opportunity with this merger is to create global brand recognition and success, adding to the contemporary line the launch of a new outdoor project."

Nicholas Brayton, President of Woolrich Inc. stated: "The core values of our family and all Woolrich people are the same as those of our partner. This agreement is a milestone in the growth of an iconic American brand that has been on the market for almost two centuries. The new strategy will translate into further acceleration of our international growth and we could not be more excited about that this means for the future of Woolrich."

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