MILAN, Italy--The Jil Sander Group has announced a strategic licensing alliance with Marchon Eyewear, Inc., to create Jil Sander men’s and women’s eyewear, starting with the 2009 collection.

The agreement will give Marchon the exclusive license to design, manufacture and distribute both the sun and ophthalmic collections for the Jil Sander eyewear line.

“Jil Sander is a brand that has the aesthetic competence to create a total look. I am looking forward to completing my vision for Jil Sander with an innovative eyewear line,” stated Raf Simons, creative director at Jil Sander, who will collaborate with Marchon on the collection. He added, “The design and palette will reflect the sophisticated and luxurious world of the Jil Sander brand.”

“This new license is the next strategic step to grow the Jil Sander business. After the successful reorganization of the Jil Sander Group, our focus is on developing new business directions and luxury accessories to enhance the world of Jil Sander,” said Gian Giacomo Ferraris, CEO of the Jil Sander Group.

“The Jil Sander brand is very interesting, as it is clean and pure and also distinctive and assertive. This design philosophy will make the Jil Sander eyewear collection extremely appealing and enduring to men and women,” said Al Berg, president and CEO, of Melville, N.Y.-based Marchon. “We’re pleased and excited to have the exclusive Jil Sander collection in our expanding brand portfolio.”

The sunwear collection will debut at retail in January 2009; and the eyewear collection in April 2009. Both collections will be sold worldwide in select department stores, specialty and optical stores. ■