Breaking news: CNN windbreakers coming to Korea

Logos of CNN Apparel and Stone Global. [STONE GLOBAL]

Stone Global, a local sports clothing company, signed a licensing deal with CNN to introduce CNN Apparel, an outdoor clothing brand, in Korea.

According to the local start-up, the apparel brand will be available in Korea in the second half of the year with the cooperation of CNN International Commercial (Cnnic), the division which is responsible for the business operations of CNN properties outside of the United States.

The local outdoor market has been strong since the Covid-19 outbreak, with many young people in their 20s and 30s starting to enjoy hiking. According to Bukhansan National Park Office, visitors to the park in the February-to-June period last year jumped more than 30 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Sales of big players in the outdoor clothing industry such as Discovery and National Geographic rose last year. Those were also brought to Korea as apparel brands after local companies signed licensing deals with foreign companies.

CNN Apparel plans to make its debut with pragmatic and comfortable outdoor clothing targeting people born in the early 1980s to early 2000s. Stone Global will start promoting the brand in the first half of the year and with sales in the second half of the year.

“Utilizing the long-accumulated know-how in planning, sourcing infrastructure and distribution, Stone Global will offer a new paradigm in the outdoor market and build ‘CNN Apparel’ to a representative brand of Korea," said Lee Seung-jae, CEO of Stone Global.

Lee also added that it is also looking forward to expanding its business to overseas markets including Japan and China.

"As the leader in global news, CNN is committed to the very highest standards in everything we do. By partnering with Stone Global we are pleased to work with a licensee that shares this same commitment in its design and production of apparel," said Phil Nelson, chief operating officer of Cnnic. "Through this agreement, CNN fans in Korea can look forward to having access to smart and sophisticated CNN-branded apparel from later this year."

BY CHEA SARAH, BAEK MIN-JEONG [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]