The brave and bold four-lettered logo, embossed on the collarless tee, now needs a new patron in India as FCUK’s existing licence holder is looking beyond French Connection for fresh ideas in fashion.
“The Murjani Group is trying to sell the FCUK business in India. It will either sell completely or find a strategic investment for the business,” said a person directly involved in the proposed divestment.
Murjani Group is the owner of Brand Marketing India (BMI), the holding company in the country for London’s French Connection that owns the FCUK brand. The group, which was known for its retail presence and launching several international brands in India, earlier sold off Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein business also.
An email sent to BMI and French Connection remained unanswered.
Initially starting out as a women’s brand, FCUK began in the United Kingdom 1972 and added menswear to its range of offerings within the first five years. It began using the bold, four-lettered logo in advertising in the 1990s, making the brand stand out in a fast-fashion clutter. Of late, however, the London-listed company’s fortunes have tracked those of other high-street brands, and sales have faltered at the retailer as consumers switch increasingly to Web-based purchases.
BMI launched FCUK in India in 2008, opening several retail outlets for the brand. Later, it also developed the brand’s e-commerce site in the country, when online retail picked up in 2013. The company also managed the brand’s sale on platforms such as Amazon, Myntra, and Jabong. BMI had also acquired FCUK’s licensing rights for neighbouring countries, such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, launching the brand in the Indian subcontinent for the first time.
