Maurizio Distefano Licensing announces emoji apparel deal with Tezenis

Brandora Redaktion - February 2019

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MD Licensing), which manages licensing for emoji® – the iconic brand in Italy, has announced a license agreement for emoji® with Tezenis, Calzedonia Group, a network of stores featuring underwear, homewear and pyjamas for men, women and children. The license is for a capsule collection entirely dedicated to the very popular icons. It will be available in all Tezenis stores from September 2019.

With access to over 80 stunning illustrations based on comprehensive style guides, Tezenis has been able to create a fun line of pyjamas, underwear and socks for men, women and children, bringing the witty, colourful and playful style for which emoji® is known to its popular apparel ranges.

Tezenis is a major brand in Italy that has a very strong international presence, thanks to a growing network of stores. More than 500 stores in over 18 countries stock Tezenis clothing. Tezenis is also part of the Calzedonia Group, a franchising network with more than 3,600 points of sale in over 35 countries all over the world. Its four successful brands – Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis and Falconeri – can be found in most major cities.

Tezenis has enjoyed particular success with underwear and homeware collections aimed at young adult men and women as well as the very young. The emoji® brand – a global communication phenomenon – mirrors this appeal and fits perfectly with the Tezenis style.

Back in 2013 the emoji company realized the expressive power of using icons (such as the Poo, the Monkey or the Unicorn) in digital communication. It decided to create emoji® – the iconic brand, a truly universal lifestyle brand for people of all ages and any gender.

The emoji® brand has grown quickly. In fact, in the past four years the emoji company has developed the world´s biggest and most impressive library of icons available for legal licensing and cross-category merchandising.

Today the emoji company has successfully established the official emoji® brand in the market and signed more than 600 noteworthy partnerships with the biggest corporations all around the globe. Official emoji® products are now sold in more than 100 countries by more than 600 global corporations. Partners include firms such as Sony Pictures Animation, Ferrero, Zara, Kellogg´s, Nestle, C&A, Nikon, Fuji, Random House, Universal Music, Walmart and The Swiss Post amongst many others.

Michela Marchese Patti, CEO, MDL, says: “Finding an appropriate partner to bring emoji® to pyjamas, underwear and socks categories has long been an ideal for MDL. Thanks to the professionalism of the Tezenis team that dream has been realized. Tezenis has been able to enhance this property, expressing its maximum potential in these important categories. We are sure that the emoji® - the iconic brand collection from Tezenis will be very popular with homewear buyers and gift-givers everywhere."