Hartmarx shifts to global strategy

CHICAGO, April 17 (UPI) -- Hartmarx, the largest tailored clothing business in the United States, will change strategies in 2008 to make up for declining store sales, the company said.

The company's stores reported 9 to 17 percent sales declines in the past year, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Several changes are afoot, Chief Executive Officer Homi Patel told reporters after a shareholder meeting Wednesday.

Hartmarx will begin making clothes for British label Doc Martens, which caters to a casual, young buyer.

The company will also end it's licensing agreement with Tommy Hilfiger and develop a partnership in India to sell Sansabelt slacks, Pierre Cardin and Hart Schaffner Marx suits there, the Sun Times reported.

The intention is to move away from licensing brands and develop its own global market. The company already has an agreement with Younger Group Ltd. to open 400 franchise stores in China, the report said.