G-III accuses PVH of breach of contract in $250-million suit

G-III Apparel Group has filed a $250 million lawsuit against PVH Corp., escalating tensions between the two fashion giants with allegations of breached licensing agreements and interference in business relationships. 

The complaint, filed in New York state court, targets PVH and its Calvin Klein Inc. and Tommy Hilfiger licensing divisions. 

While the full suit remains under seal, a legal filing offers insight into G-III’s case. At the heart of the dispute are claims that PVH breached its contracts with G-III involving both the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands. 

G-III is seeking a declaratory judgment stating it is not obligated to pay royalties due to its failure to meet minimum sales requirements—a failure the company attributes to PVH’s own actions, including its strategic decision to scale back the brands’ wholesale presence. The lawsuit also accuses PVH of tortious interference in G-III’s women’s suits licenses for both brands and seeks damages as a result. 

As the case unfolds, a redacted version of the suit is expected to shed further light on what appears to be a high-stakes corporate split with implications for some of the fashion industry’s most iconic names.