LVMH will sell Marc Jacobs to WHP Globalbehind the New York-based brand management company Vera Wang, Rag & Bone, G-Star, of Joeand Express. The companies announced the transaction, marking a major shift for the American fashion house after three decades under LVMH. G-III Apparel Groupits owner Donna Karanwill join WHP Global in the ownership structure.
The deal places Marc Jacobs in a growing portfolio built on recognizable fashion names with a broad retail reach. G-III said it will form a 50/50 joint venture with WHP Global after the transaction closes. This joint venture will own the Marc Jacobs intellectual property, while G-III will acquire the operating business and enter into a long-term licensing agreement.
Bernard Arnaultchairman and CEO of LVMH, thanked Marc Jacobs for his work with the group and described him as a designer of rare creativity and distinct vision. Morris Goldfarbchairman and CEO of G-III, called Marc Jacobs one of the most influential names in fashion and framed the transaction as part of G-III’s strategy to build a broader portfolio of global brands.
Marc Jacobs will remain founder and creative director, retaining control over the brand’s creative direction, collections and exhibitions. Jacobs addressed the sale on Instagram, writing that his meeting with the president and CEO of WHP Global Yehuda Shmidman it made him feel that the new owner understood the house he and his teams built. He also thanked Bernard Arnault and LVMH for their support over the past 30 years and wrote: “I look forward to working with Yehuda to write our next bright chapter.”
Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy founded the brand in 1984. LVMH acquired a majority stake in the company in 1997, the same year Jacobs became its first creative director Louis Vuitton. Under LVMH, Marc Jacobs evolved from a niche company in New York to an internationally recognized fashion house. The brand also started Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001, then discontinued the line in 2015. In 2020, the company introduced Heaven by Marc Jacobsa newer line known for its Y2K references and high-profile collaborations.
LVMH has already divested itself of many assets in recent years. The group sold Donna Karan to G-III in 2016, Off-White to Bluestar Alliance in 2024, its stake in Stella McCartney in January 2025 and DFS’ Greater China operations in January 2026. Cabanis said LVMH works first to fix underperforming brands when the operator offers a put option for another company.
