French luxury goods group LVMH has signed a binding agreement to sell the Marc Jacobs label to New York brand management company WHP Global. The transaction, announced on May 14, 2026, ends a nearly three-decade partnership between the luxury group and the American designer.
Under the agreement, G-III Apparel Group will jointly manage the brand with WHP Global through a newly formed 50/50 joint venture. The two companies are providing up to $850 million to finance the acquisition.
Industry experts see the decision to sell selected brands as an expression of LVMH’s strategy to concentrate resources on the larger core brands. The move follows the sale of Off-White to Bluestar Alliance last year and the divestment of its stake in Stella McCartney in January. The company is also reportedly exploring a possible sale of Fenty Beauty.
At the same time, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East continue to impact travel and dampen consumer spending in the region. LVMH recently said that the war in Iran reduced its group sales by at least 1 percent in the last quarter. Weaker spending in the Gulf region was further compounded by a decline in tourism in Europe.
Strategic expansion for WHP Global and G-III
The joint venture will retain Marc Jacobs’ intellectual property rights. G-III will take over and lead the brand’s global operations. This includes the direct-to-consumer (D2C) area and the wholesale business.
The acquisition positions Marc Jacobs as a key component of WHP Global’s premium fashion segment. This currently includes labels such as Vera Wang, Rag & Bone and G-Star. Upon completion of the transaction, WHP Global expects global retail sales to exceed $9.50 billion.
G-III will invest approximately $500 million to finance its portion of the transaction. To do this, the company uses existing cash and revolving credit lines. G-III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Morris Goldfarb emphasized that the move underscores a commitment to diversifying a portfolio that already includes DKNY and Donna Karan.
Continuity in creative leadership
Despite the change in ownership, founder Marc Jacobs will continue in his role as creative director. Jacobs thanked LVMH chairman and chief executive Bernard Arnault for three decades of support. He is looking forward to the next chapter of the brand.
Arnault described Jacobs as a designer of rare creativity and thanked him for his contribution to the group. LVMH first acquired a majority stake in the label in 1997. Under the group’s leadership, the brand expanded into a global company with ready-to-wear, handbags and fragrances.
The partnership aims to accelerate growth by leveraging WHP Global’s licensing platform and G-III’s operational capabilities. WHP Global currently manages more than 15 brands that generate over $8.50 billion in retail sales annually.
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