Jil Sander Interim Results 2005/06

The JIL SANDER Group posted net revenues of € 69.8 million Euro during the first six months of the financial year 2005/06 (February through July 2005), an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period in the previous year.

The increase in sales is largely due to the retail activities of the Group’s directlyoperated stores as well as the Women´s Wear wholesale activities. Jil Sander’s own retail stores posted a networthy 10.0% increase in net revenues. Women’s wear activity increased by 6.4%, while the men´s wear sales decreased by 10.3%. Royalties increased by 8.2%.

The increase can also be attributed to the positive turn in luxury goods market on the whole, a market in which consumers are currently more inclined to spend. Another factor helping the improvement, however, is our effort to return the focus on the core business and the brand, a brand that is appreciated by the fashion press and customers worldwide for its clear, pristine design content.

Jil Sander axes 130 jobs

Luxury fashion label Jil Sander AG is cutting 130 jobs in Hamburg, Germany, in a shift of operations to Italy, writes financial newspaper Boersen-Zeitung.

Jil Sander is said to be closing down its last German manufacturing base and is thought to be in discussions with the labour unions to establish a redundancy scheme for employees.

With this restructuring plan Jil Sander – which was bought by Italian fashion house Prada in 1999/2000 - hopes the business will return to profit.

www.jilsander.com

October 2005

Jil Sander appoints new designer

Belgian designer Raf Simons is the new creative director for fashion label Jil Sander, owner Prada confirmed today. He will begin his new job on 1 July 2005. Simons will be responsible for the womens and menswear collection and will begin by designing the autumn/winter 2006/7 collections, which will be unveiled in Milan in February 2006.

"I couldn't be happier to work for a brand as pure and clean as Jil Sander," said Simons. "I am eager to carry forward the simple, pristine design that the Jil Sander name has come to represent. There is a strong affinity between how I perceive my own design and the core values that the Jil Sander brand embraces."

Simons was born in Neerpelt, Belgium, and began his career as furniture designer in 1968 after studying industrial design. In 1995 he launched his own collection and went on to win a range of accolades. He was also appointed head professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna in 2000.

"We are excited about this decision, which we made together with the Prada Group," said Gian Giacomo Ferraris, Jil Sander's CEO. "Working with Raf Simons will ensure strong continuity in the product that has distinguished the Jil Sander brand throughout the world." Jil Sander founded the brand in 1973, but left the label when it was bought by Prada in 2000. She returned in May 2003, only to leave a second time in November 2004. According to the rumour mill, she and Prada boss, Patrizio Bertelli, did not get along.

www.jilsander.com
May 2005