Selene

Italian ready-to-wear company founded by Walter Burani in 1960 in Reggio Emilia to produce and distribute outdoor clothes for little girls. Having achieved 1,000 sales points, the company launched a line for older girls, while investments allowed them to modernize and expand their production plants. In the mid-1970s the business expanded to include women’s clothes. In 1988, it set up the company Mariella Burani, which has its own set of stores and works with licensing agencies. In 1996 Selene USA was created. The Italian company currently has more than 40 own brand stores and franchised shops around the world, all designed by Antonio Citterio. 1998 closed with direct sales (excluding licenses) of 180 billion lire, an increase of 29% on the previous year. Exports accounted for 55% of the sales. Sub-licenses were granted through the Mariella Burani Fashion Group to 18 firms making knitwear, ties, cosmetics, leather goods, eyewear, and accessories. Selene has five of its own brands and produces the Carisma and Carisma Rouge lines for Valentino, under a licensing agreement that dates back to 1993. Since 1996, Selene is the exclusive distributor of Gai Mattiolo ready-to-wear and the Shockingai by Mattiolo line. In March 1999, it signed an agreement to produce the Calvin Klein Donna line starting in Spring-Summer 2000. The following November, the company bought 100% of Mila Schön Investment.