Marc Jacobs signs watch license with Shinola parent company Bedrock

By

Olivier Guyot

Published
Feb 12, 2019

On the eve of its New York fashion show, Marc Jacobs has announced that it has switched partners for its watch collection. The brand's CEO Eric Marechalle has decided to call an end to its collaboration with Fossil, which has produced the label's watches since 2004, to work instead with American watch and outdoor company Bedrock Manufacturing from Fall 2019. 

"We are excited to partner with a company that shares our commitment to detail and quality," said Marechalle in a release. "Through Marc’s unique design lens and Bedrock’s well-established expertise in craftsmanship, we look forward to a new chapter of Marc Jacobs Watches."

Launched by Fossil founder Tom Kartsotis, Bedrock Manufacturing is the parent company of outdoor brand Filson and high-end watch label Shinola, both of which carry out their manufacturing in the US. The group is currently experiencing accelerated growth and announced in November that it had received funding from Qatar Investment Authority.

From here on, the company will design, produce and distribute the Marc Jacobs watch line, with its first collection slated to hit the stores in October 2019. Aside from watches, Marc Jacobs's global business includes women's ready-to-wear and leather goods, as well as the kids line Little Marc Jacobs, fragrance and Marc Jacobs Beauty. Founded in 1984, the Marc Jacobs brand is owned by LVMH and currently operates some 280 stores around the world.