Maurizio Distefano Licensing appoints Valero Enterprises as Sub-agent for USA

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - September 2019

Hard on the heels of the creation of its new division totally dedicated to fashion licensing and projects, Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL) has made its first licensing agent appointment for a fashion brand.

To develop the US market for all product categories, Maurizio Distefano Licensing has appointed Valero Enterprises as Licensing Sub-agent for the extraordinary and influential brand Premoli+DiBella.

The new appointment will allow MDL to respond to the growing needs of licensees and retailers who are taking an ever-stronger interest in some of the most distinctive and original brands in the world of high fashion.

Valero Enterprises was founded in 2004 in Los Angeles, CA, as a strategic collaboration among licensing industry and brand development veterans. Valero Enterprises’ executives have successfully launched and developed multi-million-dollar brands, outreach and partner relationships that span across all industries, including fashion manufacturing, music labels, film and TV, retail outlets, social gaming, and much more.
At Valero Enterprises licensing is seen as more than a partnership between manufacturer and brand owner. The company leverages and expands upon core brand attributes while thinking “outside of the box”, constantly looking for opportunities beyond traditional licensing, such as collaborative marketing, promotions and co-branded programs, to expand consumer touch points and enhance brand equity.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL) will be attending Brand Licensing Europe from 1 to 3 October – and this year will again have its own dedicated stand (E183). The MDL team will be welcoming visitors and presenting a comprehensive overview of the special opportunities the company can offer partners.

But this year there’s a difference. Along with its successful portfolio of entertainment brands MDL will be focusing on its fast-expanding work in the fashion field, where some exclusive projects are already under way.

This involvement in fashion is not an afterthought: the agency has created a whole new division totally dedicated to fashion to better meet the needs of licensees and retailers. Already MDL manages worldwide rights for Premoli + Di Bella, Filippo Laterza and Stefano Cavalleri. And to further underline its strong credentials in fashion licensing, MDL founder Maurizio Distefano is presenting a seminar on 1 October at 2.45 pm at the Licence Global Theatre. He will discuss Accessible Luxury: how can Fashion boost the different categories of Licensing.

Premoli + Di Bella is an explosive brand named after Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella, a multi-faceted creative duo, who have been named by the press as the Designers of the Third Millennium and lifestyle artists. And with good reason. They are Creative Directors for men's and women's apparel, accessories, luxury goods and living collections, with a strong background in the world of luxury fashion, textiles and the apparel industry. They are creative, young, socially conscious, luxury conscious, Made in Italy and international.

Storytelling is the starting point of this creative duo: the story is the basis of everything. Storytelling, experimenting and researching together allow Premoli + Di Bella to bring to market not just objects but something more, something that communicates with viewers through art, image, fashion and design.

But don’t take our word for it: MDL will be previewing this new, high-fashion brand at BLE for licensing projects – not just on its stand (E183) but through also a dedicated display called Premoli + Di Bella the Fashion activation at BLE at entrance N5. The display offers visitors a chance to see some stunning creations from the prestigious Premoli + Di Bella home linen collection licensed to high-end home linen label Mirabello Carrara, as well as a number of other amazing outfits.

Maurizio Distefano said: “When we expanded our licensing offering to include fashion we knew that we needed the best possible partnerships in overseas territories to meet the high standards we had set for ourselves in this new field. Susan Valero and her team are both successful and innovative – the perfect partner for our fashion-focused licensing initiative.”

Susan Valero said: “MDL already has a strong reputation in licensing in both Italy and beyond. Its move into fashion is both exciting and entirely logical for an agency always seeking new challenges. We’re delighted to be working with MDL on one of Italy’s – and the world’s – most exciting high-end young fashion brands.”