Brooksfield

Brand of prêt-à-porter fashion belonging to the Mistral company which, established in 1971 by Umberto Maria Monasteri, initially produced and distributes only men’s trousers. The headquarters is in Mocalieri, near Turin. Changes in the market convinced the ownership to expand production in the direction of a British style total look. During the 1980s the company’s identity began to be defined around the Brooksfield brand, as part of constant expansion. In 1985 the brand launched a women’s line. In the early 1990s, it started a licensing program which developed a perfume (Eurocosmesi), eye glasses (Lastes International), a children’s line (Simonetta), and leather goods (Basso Leather). The company, of which 82% is held by the Luxembourg financial company Caesar Finance, has sales of roughly 40 billion liras, 70% of which is in the home market and for the remaining 30% abroad. The annual production of garments, partly commissioned by third parties, amounts to 460,000 pieces. It employs about 50 workers. There are about 300 authorized points-of-sale for men’s wear and 140 for women’s, distributed in Europe, the Philippines, Japan and Venezuela. There are ten single-brand shops in Europe, including one in Milan.
Signature of a license agreement with Karichi for manufacture and distribution in Japan. The agreement provides for the opening of 33 points-of-sale and 10 outlets. An agreement is also concluded with the Turkish company Bilsar Tekstil Sanaya, which will open 30 corner shops and 45 outlets within 2006.
The opening of a headquarters for Mistral in the Soho district of New York foresees an expansion in the U.S. market which should have effects in South America and the Caribbean as well.
Mistral, of which Brooksfield is the leading brand, ends 2002 with a turnover of around €30 million, an increase of 18% compared to the previous year, thanks in part to the début of the Moncalieri brand in the U.S.