Smiley makes a ‘Splash’ in the Middle East
November sees the launch of The Smiley Company’s first range with Middle Eastern high-street fashion giants Splash. Splash, established in 1993, is the largest multi-brand fashion retailer in the Middle East with over 100 stores and comes to us from the Landmark Group (one of the largest retail conglomerates in the Middle East and India) which currently has over 900 stores in 15 countries with an annual turnover of 3.8 billion USD.
Speaking on the new brand launch, Raza Beig, CEO, Splash says:
"We are extremely pleased to welcome 'The Smiley Company' into the Splash family. We are constantly working towards bringing together popular international brands to the fashion savvy Middle Eastern audience. 'The Smiley Company' offers creative and edgy products with the use of simple yet endearing emoticons which are bound to make you smile but not without making a definite style statement."
The exclusive range for the SmileyWorld brand embraces the brand’s cores values of self-expression and happiness and features a whole host of emoticon inspired prints for men, women and teens in bright cheery colours and quirky finishes. The collection compromises of 17 different styles for both men & women including hoodies, knitwear, t-shirts, leggings, underwear, shorts and caps.
Nicolas Loufrani, CEO of The Smiley Company, says:
“We could not find a better partner. Their concept is really unique, it is probably the only high street chain that understands the power of building long lasting partnerships with brands to drive customers in the stores and keep them excited with new ideas”.
The range will be available across all Splash stores this month.
About ‘The Smiley Company’
The ‘Smiley’ company is home to one of the most recognisable symbols in the world. The original Smiley brand was born on January 1st 1972 with the ‘take time to smile’ promotion in French newspaper ‘France Soir’. The Smiley logo was used to highlight all good news so people could choose to read positive and uplifting articles.
40 years on the logo is now the symbol for a globally recognized brand and has enjoyed worldwide success with extensive licensing partnerships. 25 years later with the evolution of the internet global communication changed forever not surprisingly, Smiley was there from the beginning.
In 1997, Nicolas Loufrani launched a universe of self expression with the brand ‘SmileyWorld’ by creating variations of the original Smiley developing expressive characters and promoting the universal language of the ‘emoticon’. Today we have thousands of different icons and characters.
‘Smiley is more than an icon, brand and lifestyle; it’s a spirit, a philosophy. It is here to remind people of how powerful a smile is and how much a simple smile can change your life and the lives of others around you.
10% of all royalties will go to charity through the Smiley World Association, which was formed in 2005 to help people in need by setting up health and educational infrastructures in third world countries.
Kind regards,
Jemma Morgan
PR, Communications and Events Manager
(Fashion and Lifestyle)
Suite 13.2.2
The Leathermarket 11/13 Weston Street Bermondsey LONDON SE1 3ER
Tel: 020 7378 8231
Mobile: 07584025351
Fax: 020 7378 8232
