Sale of Gianfranco Ferré Delayed

Italian officials approved the sale of Gianfranco Ferré to Prodos Capital Management and Salmar Shipping Ltd. last month. However, an agreement between Prodos and Samsung (which has its own fashion division, including brands like FUBU) that affects the acquisition is holding things up. A source tells WWD everyone involved in the deal “may have agreed on strategies, but not on the operative decisions, such as the choice of a chief executive or of a creative designer.” Ferré is currently designed by 6127 designers Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi (their line is not to be confused with Lindsay Lohan’s 6126 clothing line). Samsung might want someone more commercial at the helm of the label, but we like TomRo. They’ve done a good job at Ferré since coming on in 2008 — remember their debut collection?

A SNAG AT FERRE? [WWD]

Sale of Gianfranco Ferré Delayed