Liu Jo
Liu Jo S.p.A. · Italy
Liu Jo is an Italian premium fashion brand founded in Carpi in 1995 by the brothers Marco and Vannis Marchi. The company remains privately controlled by Marco Marchi and sells womenswear, denim, accessories, menswear and kidswear through its own stores, franchise partners and wholesale.
| Founded | 1995, Carpi |
|---|---|
| Founders | Marco and Vannis Marchi |
| Controlling shareholder | Marco Marchi (since 2017) |
| Headquarters | Carpi, Italy |
| Segment | Premium womenswear and accessories |
| Website | liujo.com |
What is Liu Jo?
Liu Jo is an Italian fashion label best known for feminine, glamorous womenswear at a premium price point. The current online store presents ranges of clothing, jeans, bags, shoes, jewellery, watches, sunglasses and fragrance for women, alongside lines for men and for babies, children and girls.
History
The company was founded in 1995 in Carpi, near Modena, a town with a long tradition of knitwear and clothing manufacturing. Its founders were the brothers Marco and Vannis Marchi. In a reorganisation in March 2017, Vannis Marchi left the board and kept a minority holding, while Marco Marchi became the controlling shareholder; he is also described as the brand's creative director.
Over the years the group widened its scope through licences and deals. In 2013 it signed an eyewear licence with Marchon Eyewear, and in 2019 it took over Blufin, the company behind Blugirl and Miss Blumarine, while Marco Marchi also invested in the Italian department store chain Coin.
Products and positioning
Liu Jo sits in the premium and contemporary segment, between fast fashion and designer labels. Its offer is built around:
- Womenswear including dresses, knitwear, tailoring and outerwear
- Denim in a range of fits, historically a core category
- Bags, shoes and small accessories
- Licensed categories such as eyewear, watches and fragrance
- Menswear and childrenswear lines
Business model and distribution
The brand combines directly operated and franchised mono-brand stores with wholesale to multi-brand retailers and its own e-commerce. According to published figures for 2022, it had about 160 stores in Italy and roughly 200 more, mostly in Europe. Licensing extends the name into product categories outside the company's core apparel know-how.
Why it matters
Liu Jo is a typical example of the entrepreneur-led Italian brands that grew out of the Emilia-Romagna textile districts into international retail networks. For retailers and buyers it is a recognisable premium womenswear name, and its mix of own retail, franchising and licensing illustrates how mid-sized Italian fashion companies scale beyond their home market.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Liu Jo?
Liu Jo is a privately held Italian company. Co-founder Marco Marchi has been the controlling shareholder since a 2017 reorganisation, when his brother Vannis left the board and kept a minority stake.
Where is Liu Jo from?
Liu Jo comes from Carpi in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, a historic centre of knitwear and clothing production. The brand was founded there in 1995.