Stefanel SpA is an Italian clothing designer, manufacturer, and retailer, producing fashions for the men's and women's segments under its own Stefanel and Stef in Time brands, as well as clothing under license for French design duo Marith and Franois Girbaud, including their jeans collection and the SPQRCITY sportswear collection.

The company's Interfashion subsidiary produces its licensed clothing.

Stefanel's sales come primarily through its international retail network of both company-owned and franchised stores, operating under the Stefanel name and, in Germany, under subsidiary Hallhuber's name.

Altogether there are some 750 stores under the Stefanel umbrella, including outlets throughout Europe, and in North America, the Middle East, and Asia.

Italy, however, remains the group's primary retail and clothing market, accounting for more than half of its stores.

Hard-pressed by strong competition at the dawn of the 21st century, including from Italian rivals Benetton and Diesel, Stefanel has diversified its operations.

In 2002, the company acquired a 50 percent stake (together with partner and Italian hard-discounter PAM) in the Nuance Group, the world's leading operator of retail duty-free stores with nearly 400 outlets worldwide.

Nuance now accounts for more than 70 percent of Stefanel's revenues, which neared EUR 650 million ($800 million) in 2003.

Stefanel, listed on the Borsa Italiana since the mid-1980s, remains controlled by the Stefanel family, under the leadership of Guiseppe Stefanel, son of the company's founder.

In October 2003, Guiseppe Stefanel raised his shareholding position in the company to more than 57.5 percent; the company's other major shareholder is Delta Erre, with 27.5 percent.

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