River Island, KMI Brands Sign Beauty Deal

Retailer River Island has signed a seven-year licensing deal with KMI Brands for the development, production and distribution of cosmetics, fragrance and toiletries, according to Fashion United. 

This is the first-ever licensing agreement for River Island, one that will allow KMI Brands to distribute River Island fragrance outside of their retail stores into wholesale. 

“Discovering the heritage of the River Island brand has been a joy,” says Claire Green, brand director, KMI Brands. “The brand is renowned for stylish, accessible and inclusive fashion, and translating this to a dynamic beauty category with experience and purpose at its core is an exciting opportunity to develop further. Meeting the extended River Island family of head office and store teams has allowed us to gain a true understanding of the River shopper and company values. This has helped to identify where we can enhance and develop, ultimately with the aligned mission to deliver a great experience for the customer.” 

Further details for the deal have yet to be released, but KMI Brands will be allowed to develop product in the beauty and grooming categories for men, women and children. 

“River Island are excited to enter into a partnership with KMI to design and develop our beauty and grooming ranges across our women’s, men’s and kids’ categories,” says Theodore Sheppard, international and business development head, River Island. “As a specialist in the field, KMI have extensive experience as well as a strong understanding of brand values. This makes them an outstanding partner to take River Island forward in these categories which we believe will deliver significant growth in the coming years.” 

KMI currently develops bath and body, fragrances and home fragrances for the Orla Kiley and Ted Baker brands.